Free Speech vs. Hate Speech: A Comparative Analysis in Social Media

This report provides a comparative analysis of free speech and hate speech, focusing on their impact within the realm of social media. It begins by defining both terms and highlights the increased use of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for expressing opinions. The report then examines...Read More

Running Head: FREE SPEECH VS HATE SPEECH
Free Speech Vs Hate Speech

FREE SPEECH VS HATE SPEECH 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Free Speech Vs Hate Speech...........................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

FREE SPEECH VS HATE SPEECH 2
Introduction
The term free speech can be defined as the right to express any sort of opinion without restraint
or censorship (Fiss, 2018). On the other hand, the term hate speech defines a speech that attacks
a group or a person based on the attributes such as ethnic origin, religion, race, gender, national
origin, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. With the advancement in technology,
social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc. are
being increasingly used by the people for the purpose of sharing news and information. People
can now openly express their views regarding any situation, condition or person on this platform.
However, this has resulted in a number of issues to the users of social media. This report
compares free speech with hate speech in case of social media.
Free Speech Vs Hate Speech
Social media is considered as the best way by the users to express themselves openly. Free
speech has led to a number of issues on social media. There are a number of examples where the
people have supported the victims of the tragedies and injustices over social media in the cases
of deadly terrorist attack in Paris, racism in the campuses of University of Missouri and Yale and
bombings in Beirut. Topics related to terrorism, racism, refugees and international policies are
also always under discussion on Facebook and Twitter. Free speech has a number of issues
involved. People having morally questionable and fundamental views can ultimately cause
discomfort and stirs. However, everyone has a right to believe in what they want but in cases
when such kind of extreme views are presented, problems begin and offense can be taken.
Therefore, it is a need for stricter online regulations and control for the purpose of alerting the
authorities regarding these cases. Moreover, free speech is also being used by the people for the
purpose of victimizing and internet bullying. It provides the users an opportunity for gossiping
24/ 7. Online bullying is considered as a serious issue and cannot be dismissed or overlooked.
Another problem arising as a result of free speech on social media is in the political context.
With the passage of time, the use of social media by both politicians and citizens has increased
enabling vivid dialogs and discussions (Friedman, 2018)

FREE SPEECH VS HATE SPEECH 3
On the other hand, hate speech is also leading towards the same negative consequences as that of
the free speech. Social media is full of hate speeches by people. Furthermore, such online hate
speech has the real world consequences. The hearts and minds of the audience get affected
through such views. For example, in real life context, if a person is a racist, his/ her views are
likely to have a little impact in the conversion of people to adopt discriminative views. However,
if such views are posted on social media there will little degree of control over the people who
will get exposed and influenced by such views. This, in turn, results in a far greater chance that
people will adopt such negative views. In other words, there is a danger of radicalization.
Radicalization can be defined as the process with the help of which people believe that violence
against others and oneself is justified in defense of their own group. However, not each and
every person forming part of the group is compulsorily radicalized to the same extent (Owen,
Noble and Speed, 2017).
Furthermore, users of social media belong to different age groups. Even children can access such
hate speeches and is leading to adverse impact on them. Hate speech on social media have
moved out of the acceptable boundaries. Readers become desensitized to the images and words
to which they are exposed to day in and day out. Hate speeches have also taken the form of
posters in order to maintain their capability of creating an impact on the audiences. Due to this,
the cultural paradigm has shifted thereby leading to the dangers of lost empathy. Discriminative
abuse and bullying is the ultimate result of such speeches on social media. In other words, hate
speeches on social media has legitimized discrimination (Lipschultz, 2018).
Such speeches are leading to harassment of both men and women over social media. Social
media harassment is being taking place in a number of forms such as being called with offensive
names, stalking, purposely embarrassing, sexual harassment, sustained harassment, or physically
threatened. One of such elements of harassment over social media is experienced by 44 % men
and 37 % women. All of these are spreading with a great speed due to free speech and hate
speech of the users of social media (Duggan, 2014).
However, the major social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google have
formulated their own policies regarding the type of hate speeches permitted on their sites. The
application of such policies is inconsistent and is difficult for the users to understand. In other
words, there are internal regulatory policies of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in relation to

FREE SPEECH VS HATE SPEECH 4
such speeches. Along with this, they have also signed a Code of Conduct with the European
Commission on the regulation of illegal hate speech or free speech (Burnap and Williams, 2015).
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that both free speech and hate speeches over social media have
provided an opportunity to the users to openly express their views publicly. Such speeches are
leading to a number of negative consequences on the users. People are becoming the victim of
online bullying and radicalization. Such views when expressed over social media have the
capability of affecting a large number of users than in the real world context. Social media
harassment is being taking place in a number of forms such as being called with offensive
names, stalking, purposely embarrassing, sexual harassment, sustained harassment, or physically
threatened. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have also signed a Code of Conduct in order to
regulate such speeches.

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References
Burnap, P. and Williams, M.L., 2015. Cyber hate speech on twitter: An application of machine
classification and statistical modeling for policy and decision making. Policy & Internet, 7(2),
pp.223-242.
Duggan, M. 2014. Online Harassment, [Online]. Available at:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/10/22/online-harassment/ [Accessed on: 6 October 2018].
Fiss, O. 2018. Liberalism divided: Freedom of speech and the many uses of state power.
Routledge.
Friedman, L. 2018. Voices on Campus: Academic and Free Speech in the Digital
Age. Bridgewater Review, 37(1), 32-33.
Lipschultz, J., 2018. Free expression in the age of the Internet: Social and legal boundaries.
Routledge.
Owen, T., Noble, W. and Speed, F.C., 2017. Silenced by Free Speech: How cyberabuse affects
debate and democracy. In New Perspectives on Cybercrime (pp. 159-174). Palgrave Macmillan,
Cham.