Hate Speech and Social Acceptance of Migrants in Europe: Analysis of Tweets with Geolocation

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Hate Speech and Social Acceptance of Migrants in Europe: Analysis of Tweets with Geolocation
Language: English
Authors: Arcila-Calderón, Carlos (ORCID 0000-0002-2636-2849), Sánchez-Holgado, Patricia (ORCID 0000-0002-6253-7087), Quintana-Moreno, Cristina (ORCID 0000-0001-6303-6332), Amores, Javier-J (ORCID 0000-0001-7856-5392), Blanco-Herrero, David (ORCID 0000-0002-7414-2998)
Source: Comunicar: Media Education Research Journal. 2022 30(71):21-34.
Availability: Grupo Comunicar Ediciones. Marina 8, Atico B - 21001 Huelva, Spain. Tel: 34-959-248480; e-mail: info@grupocomunicar.com; Web site: https://www.revistacomunicar.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Social Bias, Speech Communication, Antisocial Behavior, Immigrants, Ethnic Diversity, Social Attitudes, Refugees, Social Media, Intergroup Relations, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Population Distribution, Geographic Regions
Geographic Terms: Europe
ISSN: 1134-3478
Abstract: Hate speech against vulnerable groups is acknowledged as a serious problem for integration and respect for the social diversity existing within the territory of the European Union. The growth of this type of discourse has been supported by the expansion of social media, which have been proven to act as a mechanism for the propagation of crimes against targets such as migrants and refugees, one of the main affected groups. That is why we have conducted the first European study of the social acceptance of migrants and refugees by studying the presence of hate speech. The research is based on the perspective of the theories of intergroup contact and mediated intergroup contact. The methodology includes large-scale longitudinal analysis (2015-2020) of online hate speech on Twitter (N=847,978) and its contrast with existing official indicators. The results suggest that personal intergroup contact is positively correlated with the support of the local population towards migrants and refugees but mediated intergroup contact is not correlated with hate speech on Twitter. We found evidence that those regions where the support for foreigners was higher, there was a lower level of hate speech on Twitter. This is an advance in the study of hate speech by territories and can help in the formulation of action strategies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2022
Accession Number: EJ1341421
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Hate speech against vulnerable groups is acknowledged as a serious problem for integration and respect for the social diversity existing within the territory of the European Union. The growth of this type of discourse has been supported by the expansion of social media, which have been proven to act as a mechanism for the propagation of crimes against targets such as migrants and refugees, one of the main affected groups. That is why we have conducted the first European study of the social acceptance of migrants and refugees by studying the presence of hate speech. The research is based on the perspective of the theories of intergroup contact and mediated intergroup contact. The methodology includes large-scale longitudinal analysis (2015-2020) of online hate speech on Twitter (N=847,978) and its contrast with existing official indicators. The results suggest that personal intergroup contact is positively correlated with the support of the local population towards migrants and refugees but mediated intergroup contact is not correlated with hate speech on Twitter. We found evidence that those regions where the support for foreigners was higher, there was a lower level of hate speech on Twitter. This is an advance in the study of hate speech by territories and can help in the formulation of action strategies.
ISSN:1134-3478