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What are hate postings? What consequences can they have? What if you are affected yourself? We have compiled facts and tips!
What is hate posting or hate speech on the internet?
On the internet, it is very easy to come across comments that offend. Can words do that at all? Of course, words can also hurt. Surely you too know moments when something is thrown at you that feel like a deep sting, even though no one has physically touched you. Everything nasty has no place on the internet, but not everything counts as so-called hate postings.
Hate postings (hate speech, hate on the net) are comments, pictures and videos used to devalue or attack other people.
Examples of hate postings:
- A person or a whole group of people are insulted, offended or discriminated against because of skin color, religion, gender or because someone is gay/lesbian/transgender. E.g. “All Muslims are ….”, “All gays should…” or “All women must…”
- An offensive comment on a photo on Instagram, e.g. “Really embarrassing that he even dares to post a photo of himself like that – as shit as he looks – really disgusting.”
- A fake profile of a person is created with derogatory, embarrassing pictures or comments. E.g. a fake profile with a picture of a person vomiting while drunk and labeled “always drunk”.
- False rumors, mean stories or made-up “facts” are spread about certain groups to make them look bad or for political opinion-making.
- Someone wishes another person dead or threatens them with violence.
In most of counties in the world including Nigeria have a right to freedom of expression, but this does not mean that one is really allowed to say anything. For example, “I am against open borders.” or “I think only a man and a woman should be able to marry.” counts as expressing one’s opinion. Counts as expressing one’s opinion. However, a line is clearly crossed when people are hurt, when people are condemned and, above all, when entire groups are equated, such as with statements like: “All refugees are criminals.” or “That certainly wasn’t a Christian.”
Little things can change
The whole internet is full of insults and slurs. Many of us feel like we can’t do anything about it and are helpless. But each of us can help to do something against hate on the net! Does that sound like an exaggeration?
Of course, we as individuals can’t change the whole world, but we can change one person’s world. Because if, for example, a shitstorm hits you or your stomach tightens because people are talking about people who feel the same way as you do, then just one comment in which someone shows that not everyone thinks like that can mean a lot. You can be that one post, that one comment, that one glimmer of hope.
Share respect, not hate!
Everyone has the right to speak or write their opinion. The only question is how you want to do it for yourself. Especially behind the screen of a laptop or smartphone, some people type something quickly without thinking much about it. Once posted, you can no longer control the reactions to it and also the effects on yourself. Again and again, young people contact us who, for example, have lost their apprenticeship because of something they posted or who has been subjected to a shitstorm or threats because of a comment in a forum.
TIP:
You decide freely! You bear the consequences.
Think about what you comment on and how you do it, what language you choose. Because it’s not just for you, it’s public. Read your post or comment again before you publish it.
Don’t write when you are super annoyed or angry. Just as something is logical to you, the opinion of another person who sees it differently is logical to them. Behind the screen there are not only you, but also other people with feelings. And even if for you it was perhaps only a shouting out of your anger at that moment, what you typed is valid if it is reported or displayed by others.
There are now many convictions for hate postings in Nigeria with fines of up to several thousand Naira. Cyber stalking (Section 24 (1b), Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015), ethnic hatred (Section 4 (2) HSB), continuous harassment by means of telecommunication or a computer system (Section 24c), or even dangerous threat (section 24 (2a-2b) are only some of the criminal offences that can be fulfilled by a hate posting.
Not easy!
A lot of things happen that do not leave us all cold – terrorist attacks, sexual harassment or denigration of homosexuals. It is precisely the seemingly simple explanations like “they” or “that” are to blame that are sometimes tempting. One longs for simple answers or even explanations. But what happens is not so easy to explain because the connections and probably also the solutions are complicated and complex.
Complex explanations, on the other hand, are not so good at taking away our fear. Maybe you know how it is when you are sitting with friends and they make statements that you don’t agree with. But it is often difficult to say something against it. Sometimes it even makes you doubt whether what you think is really right. And somehow you no longer know what to think. Parents think one thing, friends something else, and you are just unsure yourself.
It’s also anything but easy. But if you don’t stop thinking, questioning, discussing and researching, then that’s a sign that you’re interested in finding out what’s really going on. And that is precisely what is incredibly important at the moment. More and more people have the feeling that they can’t do anything anymore. As if a mass were overrunning them when they surf through social networks, for example. But each and every one of us can make a small contribution.
For example, by not simply letting postings that defame a person or even entire groups stand.
TIP:
What to do about hate mail?
- Report hates postings! This is possible in almost all social media. If you notice that a post or comment goes too far, report it. Since 2021, the major communication platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat & Co. are obliged to delete reported illegal content within 24 hours or 7 days. You can report if you yourself are affected by hate postings, but also if others are affected. By the way, it will NOT be made public who has reported it! You can find instructions on how to delete postings on the various social media platforms in the privacy guidelines of Saferinternet.at.
- Protect yourself! If you are affected by hate comments yourself, block the people who incite against you, insult you or bully you. On some social media platforms (e.g. Instagram or Facebook) it is also possible to create block lists with words or emojis. Direct messages with such content then end up in a separate folder and you can also report them unread to the platform for review.
- Get support! For example, from your family, friends or a counseling center. You can also contact our counseling services. If you are affected yourself, we can help you together with the ombudsman’s office to delete content.
- Be critical, rocks! If photos are posted that show “the” behavior of homosexuals or “the foreigners”, then use the reverse Google search! Just drag the photo into the Google search mask and see if the photo is even in the posted context. Very often you can find out that the photos show completely different situations and have nothing to do with the posted content. This way you can find out for yourself what is true and what is not. In the same way, if someone reports about an experience of their cousin, uncle, etc., you can find out what is true and what is not. Copy the text and enter it into a search engine. This will give you a clue as to whether the text is simply copied or whether it can actually be a personal experience. Put the text under “inverted commas”.
- Post factual information! People who post hate comments often cannot be convinced. However, many people read along who do not know exactly what to make of it. It makes sense to post information that you have found from trustworthy sources and that shows that a posting is clearly spreading false information, for example. By posting the original source of the photo below the post, you can help to make others of your fellow readers think about it.
For further help and support — Speak with a licensed therapist today.