From the Editor: Use your platform to stand up against online hate speech

🔊 Listen to Post

No matter which platform you’re on or what your interests may be, you don’t have to scroll on social media for long to come across some form of hate speech. 

Whether it be the post, caption, or comment section, social media is littered with hurtful and horrific derogatory language that can not only ruin one’s self-esteem and mental health, but also perpetuate stereotypes and prejudicial ways of thinking. 

But this form of cyberbullying is no secret. I’m sure we’ve all seen, or experienced, some form of online hate speech at some point in our lives. Maybe you chose to try and fight against it in the comment section or reported the post, comment, or user in hopes the content would get taken down. Or maybe you continued scrolling.

Many, if not all, social media platforms have established hate speech and conduct policies, including Meta, X, and TikTok, which work to prevent and eliminate this type of language on the platform. However, these policies aren’t enough. 

A survey released last June by the Anti-Defamation League found online hate is on the rise as 52 per cent of adults reported being harassed online, whether that be in regard to their race, religion, or gender, an increase from 40 per cent in 2022. It also found that 47 per cent of 2SLGBQIA+ people had been harassed online in the past year, and 76 per cent of transgender people have faced online harassment, the most targeted demographic group.

From these statistics alone, it’s obvious that these hate speech policies either aren’t effective or aren’t actually enforced by the networks. 

Last year, Media Matters found that Meta has profited from more than 200 ads containing the word “groomer,” which is often used to falsely describe members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, all while the social media giant claims that use of the word violates its hate speech policies. In terms of X, research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that the platform continues to host 87 per cent of reported hateful posts and 90 per cent of accounts instead of removing, blocking, or banning them. 

Even if social media platforms followed through with their policies and blocked users from creating and distributing hate speech online, very little is stopping these people from making a new email and creating a new account. 

What’s most disheartening about this is that social media is one of the most effective ways to build community and feel a resulting sense of belonging, especially for marginalized groups, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

When these online communities get torn down by hate speech and derogation, it can lead to depression, anxiety, and self-doubt for victims, according to BioMed Central, all while fueling perpetrators, furthering discrimination, stigmatization, and resulting in real-world violence, the United Nations found. 

While you may want to place blame on social media platforms for these repercussions, which they should hold some level of accountability for, the blame should fall on us — the users who are watching this hate unfold from the sidelines, playing witness to both online and realtime destruction. 

Social media is unique in the way it gives each and every one of us a voice to share, express, and, most importantly, educate. In an age where disinformation lies behind every corner, it’s crucial that we use our online presence to stand up for others and fight back against hate speech. 

If you really need a reason to start doing so, it’s Pride month, a time to celebrate the achievements of 2SLGBTQIA+ community, but also recognize the importance of acceptance and inclusion, along with the work that still needs to be done. 

This month, use your social media platforms to start standing up against homotransphobic hate speech and continue to do so year round, just be sure to do your research and educate yourself first. I recommend checking out resources on the Pride Education Network’s website or taking Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s online Moodle module “Relearning Gender.”

To those who ignite hate speech or leave harmful comments online, do yourself a favour and keep scrolling.