Episode #05: Hate Speech and Abusive Behaviour on Social Media

It is well known that social media can be a hotbed for online harassment, with everything from cyberbullying to hate speech running rampant.

But most of the research that comes out focuses predominantly on English-speaking countries, particularly the US and the UK. As a consequence, this leaves a huge gap in our understanding of how online abuse manifests in other cultures and languages.

Thus, this episode takes a ground-breaking cross-cultural look at hate speech and abusive online behaviour, venturing beyond the Anglophone world. We delve into a book that has analysed over 100 academic studies originally published in three non-hegemonic languages (Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish) covering a diverse range of 11 countries across Latin America and Europe, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, Spain and more.

This extensive research reveals how deeply intertwined online behaviour is with cultural norms, historical contexts, and even the nuances of language itself.

We explore how these factors shape not only how online harassment manifests but also the very real impact it has on individuals and societies in different parts of the world. Join us for a unique perspective on a global problem.

For additional information, read the book, which is available for purchase from the publisher’s website and several major bookstores around the world: https://vernonpress.com/book/2062