Predictors of Viewing Online Extremism Among America’s Youth

Abstract

Exposure to hate material is related to a host of negative outcomes. Young people might be especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of such exposure. With that in mind, this article examines factors associated with the frequency that youth and young adults, ages 15 to 24, see material online that expresses negative views toward a social group. We use an online survey of individuals recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans for this project. Our analysis controls for variables that approximate online routines, social, political, and economic grievances, and sociodemographic traits. Findings show that spending more time online, using particular social media sites, interacting with close friends online, and espousing political views online all correlate with increased exposure to online hate. Harboring political grievances is likewise associated with seeing hate material online frequently. Finally, Whites are more likely than other race/ethnic groups to be exposed to online hate frequently.

Youth Exposure to Hate in the Online Space: An Exploratory Analysis

“…In our study, we found that the more time youth spent online the more likely they were to be exposed to hate in the online space. This result is consistent with the previous literature [ 29 , 34 , 35 ]. Not surprisingly, communicating with strangers online was associated with an increased risk of being exposed to hate.…”

“…In 2011, a US-based national study demonstrated that amount of general technology use and age are predictive factors for almost all technology-based violent experiences and exposures [ 32 ]. Recent research in the US has identified various socio-demographic, psychological, and behavioral factors that may put an individual at risk of exposure to hate online, such as young age, white race, male gender, level of education, online victimization, low trust in government, and time spent on the internet [ 34 , 35 ]. Such risk factors provide invaluable information on a pernicious phenomenon that has persisted at high levels over the past decade in the US.…”

“…Such risk factors provide invaluable information on a pernicious phenomenon that has persisted at high levels over the past decade in the US. Indeed, data from the US have consistently indicated high levels of exposure to hate messages online among nationally sampled populations, with 53%, 65%, and 87% of respondents indicating exposure to such messages in 2013, 2015, and 2016, respectively [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. The international knowledge base of the correlates for exposure to hate online has similarly grown over the past decade.…”

Youth Exposure to Hate in the Online Space: An Exploratory Analysis

“…In our study, we found that the more time youth spent online the more likely they were to be exposed to hate in the online space. This result is consistent with previous literature [24][25][26]. Not surprisingly, communicating with strangers online was associated with increased risk of being exposed to hate.…”

“…As such, it is important to understand who are the most vulnerable to such exposure, so to equip them with the requisite knowledge to critically assess the material they may come across while online. Recent research has identified various psychological and behavioral factors that may put an individual at risk of exposure to hate online, such as: race, level of education, victimization, weak family attachment, low trust in government, and time spent on the internet [24][25][26]. This study seeks to contribute to this body of research focusing on the understanding of the predictors of youth's exposure to online hate by exploring the role of demographic characteristics, attitudes, risk perceptions and online behaviors.…”