The Hate of the Internet : In today's digital world, we all have access to an infinite amount of information and can connect with people all over the world. Although this offers many benefits, the anonymity of the Internet also has negative effects on the way we communicate. People can easily become targets for hatred and insults, especially on social media.

The phenomenon of “hate on the internet” has increased dramatically in recent years. The fact that people often enjoy anonymity online can lead them to feel tempted to express their opinions freely without concern for the consequences or impact on others.

Online hate can range from personal attacks to targeted attacks on entire groups

It can range from inappropriate comments on social media to actual threats or stalking. The impact of hate online can be very real and has serious consequences for people's mental health and well-being.

However, it is important to emphasize that we as individuals can also give ourselves the power to reduce online hate and make our online conversations more constructive. It starts with realizing that our online interactions can have a real impact on others.

If you find yourself in an online conversation that's quickly going off in an unpleasant direction, there are a few things you can do to get the conversation back on track.

Here are some tips on dealing with hate online:

  1. Remain Calm and Respectful: It is important to remain calm and not get personal. Try to remain respectful even if you disagree with a person.
  2. Avoid generalizations: Try to limit your statements to specific examples rather than making general claims. This can help keep the discussion on a factual level.
  3. Try to find common ground: Focus on similarities rather than differences. When you find common ground, you can find a compromise or find a way to work together toward a goal.
  4. Make suggestions instead of attacks: Instead of attacking others, try to make constructive suggestions on how to improve the situation. This can help move the discussion forward rather than blocking it.
  5. Don't engage in provocation: If someone tries to provoke or insult you, it's often best not to respond, but rather to remain calm and focus on the issue. Ignoring provocations can also help other panelists focus on your arguments rather than your emotional reactions.
  6. Check your sources: Before making a statement or sharing anything, make sure you have checked your sources. Incorrect information can quickly cause the discussion to get out of hand.
  7. Use humor: Humor can often help lighten the mood and reduce tension. But be careful not to offend or hurt anyone.
  8. Set boundaries: If the discussion gets out of hand or becomes too personal, it's okay to back off or change the subject. You can also set clear boundaries by explaining what type of behavior you will and will not accept.

Overall, it is important that we recognize that our online interactions can have real impacts on others. We can help reduce hate online by focusing on constructive conversations and keeping our online interactions respectful and civil. When we make an effort to focus on commonalities and understand others' perspectives, we can understand each other better and make our online interactions more positive.

  1. “Online Harassment 2017,” Pew Research Center, 2017, http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/07/11/online-harassment-2017/ .
  2. “How to Stop the Spread of Online Hate,” United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/letsfightracism/online-hate.shtml .
  3. “How to Stop Hate from Spreading Online,” BBC Future, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190514-how-to-stop-hate-speech-from-spreading-online .
  4. “How to Handle Conflict in Online Conversations,” Harvard Business Review, 2018, https://hbr.org/2018/08/how-to-handle-conflict-in-online-conversations .
  5. “The Psychology of Online Hate Speech,” Psychology Today, 2019, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hate-and-the-power-prejudice/201903/the-psychology-online-hate-speech .

Related to the topic: When words become weapons: Strategies against hatred and hate speech online

Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )