Political Science

How U.S. Presidential elections strengthen global hate networks

A. Verma, R. Sear, et al.

This paper, conducted by Akshay Verma, Richard Sear, and Neil Johnson, explores the profound impact of the 2020 U.S. presidential election on the global online hate ecosystem. Discover how offline events reshaped hate communities, bringing 50 million accounts closer together and escalating the prevalence of hate speech targeting immigration, ethnicity, and antisemitism.

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Abstract

This paper investigates how the 2020 U.S. presidential election impacted the global online hate universe. The study reveals that offline events triggered rapid adaptations in this online ecosystem, strengthening its network structure and the types of hate content produced. Approximately 50 million accounts in hate communities were drawn closer together and to a broader mainstream, with increased hate speech targeting immigration, ethnicity, and antisemitism. Telegram played a key role in this process, highlighting the need for more proactive and comprehensive anti-hate strategies that consider the multi-dimensional nature of the hate universe.

Publisher

npj Complexity

Published On

Oct 26, 2024

Authors

Akshay Verma, Richard Sear, Neil Johnson