Social network conversations with young online authors of hate speech

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of a number of Ask.fm conversations between the author and young writers of hate speech (ages 14-21) who were directly contacted by the author. The youngsters’ reactions differed in that some upheld what they had published while others decided to delete their hate statements. This form of direct contact with young writers can be viewed not only as a case study of virtual ethnography but also as an experiment in educating them to reflect on values and online responsibility. Young online writers are obliged to face an interlocutor and critically reflect on the hate content of their conversations, of which they often seem unaware.