The ecology of online hate speech: Mapping expert perspectives on the drivers for online hate perpetration with the Delphi method

Abstract

Online hate speech (OHS) is a prevalent issue on social media with harmful consequences for individuals and society. Counteracting this issue requires a better understanding of the factors that drive behaviors such as posting hate speech or making hateful comments. The present study contributes to this need by investigating the personal, social, and digital determinants for OHS perpetration. By conducting a two-round Delphi study, data was collected from an interdisciplinary sample of experts. Practitioners were included in this sample to bridge gaps between research and fieldwork on OHS. The first survey collected information through open-ended questions, which was then organized in different themes and lists of determinants in a thematic analysis. These determinants were rated for relevance in a follow-up survey. Data analysis of the second survey used nonparametric statistics. From a total list of 129 determinants, the participants reached a consensus on 27 determinants as most relevant (median > 4) for facilitating the production and dissemination of OHS. An ecological perspective was applied to interpret these findings. As a result, we propose an ecological model of personal, social, and digital determinants for online hate perpetration to illustrate their influence on individual behavior as well as their possible connections. The model provides a comprehensive overview of factors facilitating OHS perpetration, which can help to identify points for intervention.