Disquieted by Online Hate: Negative Experiences of Finnish Adolescents and Young Adults
Keywords
Online hate
Victimization
Fear of crime
Disquiet
Anxiety
Youth
Publication details
| Year: | 2020 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10610-018-9393-2 |
| Issued: | 2018 |
| Language: | English |
| Volume: | 26 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page: | 23 |
| End Page: | 37 |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Savimäki T.; Kaakinen M.; Räsänen P.; Oksanen A. |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research |
| Publisher: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
| Topics: | Wellbeing; Risks and harms |
| Sample: | 1726 Finnish participants between 15 and 30 years old who had seen online hate content during past 3 months |
Abstract
Online hate is becoming a growing public concern, but so far, the phenomenon hasnot been studied from the perspective of fear of crime. This study examined why some peopleare disquieted more by hateful online content than others. The data consist of Finnishparticipants (n= 1726) between 15 and 30 years old. The main analysis focused on participantswho had seen online hate content during the past 3 months. The feeling of being disturbed bythis type of material is, in this article, operationalized with the concept of disquiet referring to afeeling of anxiety or uneasiness. The findings, based on ordinary least-squares regressionanalysis (OLS), show that the intensity of such negative experiences was stronger for women,immigrants, and those who had faced previous online and offline victimization. Risk-takerswere less likely to be disquieted by online hate. In addition, those worrying about becomingonline hate victims were more disquieted by online hate than others. The findings emphasizethat online hate content may have a strong impact on those who are already in a vulnerableposition. Overall, the study supports the idea that online and offline worlds are not twoseparate realities but rather coexisting dimensions of one social sphere.
Outcome
The feelings of being disturbed occurred more strongly for women, immigrants, and those who had faced previous online and offline victimization. Risk-takers were least easily disquieted by online hate. Those who were using online services extencively and were worrying about becoming online hate victims were more disquieted by online hate.