Publications
-
More Racist and Anti-Chinese Sentiments on Twitter During COVID-19
Racism & xenophobia continue to be pervasive and omnipresent forms of hate across all social media platforms. Aroused by the unprecedented toll of the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to a surge in social media use, anti-Chinese sentiments have been especially rampant in an effort to placate the anger, confusion, and sadness induced by the pandemic.…
-
Trolling: the Modern-Day Coliseum
Aren’t you told you deserve to be urinated on and sexually abused every morning with your double-shot latte? If feminist writers such as Jezebel’s Lindy West are to be believed, trolling has become a “common part” of journalism practice and a frequently overlooked workplace issue. Trolling has cemented itself as an integral part of the…
-
Books That Inspire Us to Stand Up Against Online Misogyny
It can be devastating reading about women in the public sphere being subjected to massive online waves of misogynistic abuse. The abuse often includes threats of murder and sexual violence – threats that are intended to terrify, silence, and oppress all of us. Even if we are not famous, we can become targets of similar…
-
Political Trolling and Suicide Incitement on Twitter
As part of our August 2020 campaign of countering online trolling, this briefing provides supplementary examples of appalling hate speech, misogyny and suicide incitement used to troll public political figures and private individuals. The briefing also explores two prominent female American political figures on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and the frequent misogynistic and…
-
“I’m not antisemitic but…”
There is a problem of structural racism within some social justice movements. Structural racism is where the practices, culture and norms act to reinforce and perpetuate inequity. One of the ways this occurs is when exceptions are made to the idea that fundamental human rights apply equally to all people at all times. For example, when…
-
Why Facebook Needs to Adopt the IHRA Definition
The Online Hate Prevention Institute, together with over 120 other organisations, has called on Facebook to adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. Further to this call, below is an op-ed from our CEO, Dr Andre Oboler, which looks at why Facebook needs the definition if it is to close the gaps in its understanding…
-
Anti-Trans Abuse Online
Cisgenderism [1] [2] is an umbrella term that collectively describes forms of systemic oppression that invalidate people’s own classifications and understanding of their genders and bodies. Misgendering One form of cisgenderism that is often found online is misgendering [3]. Misgendering refers to the use of gendered classifications, concepts, and language that do not match how…
-
Unmasking Serious Trolling on Twitter
The act of serious trolling online continues to be a pervasive and inglorious form of harassment, bullying, and intimidation. Whether targeting celebrities, organizations, or other individuals, serious trolling seeks to provoke anger and outrage among social media users, with the ultimate goal of causing individual harm. In this briefing, OHPI seeks to shed light on…
-
By popular demand: Political Speech and Hate on Facebook
The Facebook boycott in the United States is deeply concerning. It is a symptom of popularism and the modern post-fact world – not a solution to those problems. The demands attached to it in fact endager democracy. Action by European regulators, and particular Germany, on hate speech led to significant improvements by Facebook over recent years. Action…
-
A Myriad of Homophobic Messages on Facebook & Twitter
As a continuation of our July campaign to combat online Homophobia & Transphobia, this briefing seeks to foster an awareness of the many homophobic messages found on Facebook and Twitter. While examples included in this article are from the United States, similar messages occur worldwide. Please report any Homophobic & Transphobic messages you find online…