Social media hate is a problem for democracy

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The host of the Danish X-Factor show, Sofie Linde, may reach new groups when she, during last Friday’s live show, fiercely scolded those who post personal hate messages on social media. Her outburst followed a quiet comment from one of the participants who said that she received hateful comments on social media about not fitting into the show, also saying “But if I do not fit into music I don’t know where I can fit in”. In an interview after the show the host elaborates on her reaction, saying, that it is so worrying that we have somehow accepted that receiving very personal, online hate is part of being in public debate or of just participating. She finds that it is a worrying development that may have huge consequences for democracy, because if anyone chooses not to engage in politics and public debate or in a public entertainment show because the personal costs can be too big, it is a democratic problem (Ekstra Bladet 26.03.2022)

Sofie Linde is definitely on the right track although we should say that online hate ‘is’ a problem, not ‘may be’. Our DECIDIS Survey (2017) from 16 years+ shows that on a scale from 0 (not important) to 7 (very important) informants place wanting to avoid negative online reactions as a reason for not debating online at 5,2. Almost 37% say this is a very important reason for not debating online, and 18% say it is important (DECIDIS N=1232). In a questionnaire (n=256, not representative) among 15-24 years in 2021 46% find the perspective of negative consequences  very important for not debating online while 19% find it important. Only 3% find it not important and 6% ‘not important at all’. And these two sets of data only represent those who chose to answer the survey/questionnaire. The majority prefers to discuss with family and friends which is great – but if public debate is considered a fundamental and vital element in democracy and democratic development, we have a problem. ‘We’ as in society and as individual citizens.  …

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