Hate Speech and New Media

Discursive expressions that aim to demean, otherize, and target individuals or groups based on their ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, language, or other identity characteristics are termed hate speech. This discourse, often infiltrating everyday life, is frequently reproduced without being noticed.

Hate speech is a form of expression that embodies ideologies of otherization, demonization, and devaluation, typically emerging from power struggles or economic competition but gaining acceptance from ordinary individuals after circulating in new media.^【1】 Thus, the issue is not merely in a single word or phrase; the intent and social meanings embedded within that word are concealed.

This phenomenon is not merely an individual mode of thought but a mode of communication rooted in social structures and disseminated through various media channels. This form of discourse often deepens societal polarization by relying on distinctions between “us” and “the other.” In the digital age, this division has become more complex and appears far more frequently in our daily lives than we commonly realize—not only on digital platforms but also in everyday interactions.

The Place of Hate Speech in the Context of New Media

New media is a digital communication environment in which users can actively participate in content creation and engage in multidirectional, real-time interaction. Shaped by Web 2.0 technologies, this environment provides rapid access to news and information, as well as opportunities for content production and dissemination, while simultaneously introducing ethical and legal challenges. New media not only facilitates the circulation of hate speech but also legitimizes it. According to Vardal, the relatively democratic structure of new media encourages widespread user-generated content, leading both producers and consumers of this content to normalize hate speech.^【2】 This language, frequently encountered on social media platforms, gradually transforms into an accepted form of communication.

Similarly, Hatice Köybaşı states that hate speech on social media spreads rapidly due to structural factors such as lack of content accountability, unregulated environments, and anonymity, with this phenomenon becoming especially pronounced on platforms like X. Users sometimes transgress ethical boundaries observed in face-to-face interactions, adopting more aggressive, exclusionary, and otherizing language on digital platforms.^【3】

Social and Media Dynamics

The origin of hate speech is not media itself. This form of discourse is a product of historical, cultural, and ideological structures. However, media plays an active role in making this discourse visible and amplifying its reach. Consequently, individuals’ everyday online practices play a crucial role in reproducing such discourses. New media enables this speech to spread even more uncontrollably due to user-generated content that bypasses professional editorial filters.^【4】

The Example of X and Its Patterns of Spread

X is a microblogging platform that allows users to rapidly share thoughts and opinions through short messages with limited character counts. This feature facilitates the swift yet potent dissemination of hate speech.^【5】 Köybaşı notes that X’s asynchronous communication structure and capacity for anonymity enable users to produce and spread hate speech content more easily and widely.^【6】

Sometimes, a sentence composed of only a few words is shared by hundreds of people, yet its impact can be far greater. Particularly prejudiced and discriminatory expressions targeting ethnic, religious, and sexual identities are reproduced through user comments, while social media algorithms facilitate the convergence of such content with users holding similar views. This dynamic can create reverberation chambers, leading to further radicalization of hate speech. In other words, these contents possess the power to transform not only individuals but society as a whole.

Hate speech is a multifaceted issue that must be examined within the context of media and society. New media offers opportunities regarding freedom of expression while simultaneously harboring risks that may expose individuals to discrimination. In light of this reality, preventive measures and awareness campaigns are of critical importance. Yet, we still have the capacity to halt this trend.

To counter such discourses, awareness initiatives grounded in media literacy are of considerable significance. It is also necessary to foster public awareness that ethical principles must apply within new media environments. Moreover, a clear understanding of the distinction between critical speech within the bounds of individual freedom of expression and hate speech that generates discrimination is essential for establishing a democratic communication environment.