Social Media and Islamophobia in the UK: An Extended Project

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Extended Project
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Abstract
The situation in several countries in the world has become so adverse that most of the
population have and show much dislike against Muslim or Islam people. The discrimination
against the people of the Muslim community has increased among people with the
enlargement in social media activities related to hatred. The social media platforms have
instigated the spark of hatred against the Muslim community all over the world.
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................5
Methodology..............................................................................................................................8
Findings and Investigation.........................................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................20
Reference List..........................................................................................................................21
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Introduction
Social media have aided people to interact and communicate with each other from various
communities and geographical locations. However, the advent of social media had negative
effects as well on the lives of people, along with positive influence. In case the adolescents
are considered, it has been perceived that social media has a huge impact on their lives as it
has been found that the advent of social media has affected their mental health. The social
media platforms are actively used by people from all backgrounds and are used by a few
people in order to spread hatred as well.
In this assignment, “Is social media increasing Islamophobia in the UK” has been
emphasized. The assignment focuses on the effect of social media platforms on the
perception of people regarding the religion of Islam. It has been found that people do not
actually use the term “Islamophobia” but convey the same meaning using other terms. The
social media platforms play a vital role in portraying a negative image of Islam that has given
rise to prejudice against the religion among people. The investigation has highlighted the
effect of BBC, Facebook, Twitter, and others with respect to Islamophobia in the country of
the United Kingdom.
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Literature Review
Islamophobia
Islamophobia can be termed as the hatred, fear, or other forms of chauvinism that people
have against the religion of Islam or Muslim. The people who belong to the religion of Islam
or Muslim are generally perceived to be related to terrorism. The term “Islamophobia” was
first used in the 20th century in the 1970s as a result of prejudice that was practised against the
Muslims or Islams (Allen, 2016). The term gained more popularity in the 1980s and 1990s
thus finally reaching the formulation of policies ofthe public. A report was created on
Muslims thriving in the United Kingdom and Islamophobia by Runnymede Trust’s
Commission. The report was named “A Challenge for Us All” in the year 1997.
Prejudice or discrimination against Muslims increased way too much. The attack on 11
September, 2001 in the United States of America, the increase in terror attacks in the
countries the United States of America and the United Kingdom and the emergence of the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant by the extremists belonging to the religion of Islam or
Muslims have lead to Islamophobia (Morgan, 2016). The increased terror attacks have lead to
the emergence of Islamophobia as several people view the attacks of terror that take place as
a result of an increase in the number of people of the Muslim community in the European
Union and the United States of America. The scenario of Islamophobia is becoming worse
day by day as the hatred against people belonging to the Muslim community is increasing
among people who belong to other communities (Garner and Selod, 2015).
Appearance of Islamophobia
The term “Islamophobia” has become a huge topic of discussion in the present scenario as in
several parts of the world any person belonging to the religion of Muslim or Islam are viewed
as terrorists. The terms Islamophobia refers to the racism that people are facing in the present
scenario all over the world because of their religion (Esposito, 2019). The mindset of people
all over the world has become negative for the religion of Islam. The social media platforms
have further increased the focus on the term of “Islamophobia” as it has been observed that
various speeches of hatred are hoisted or made LIVE on the social media platforms with
respect to the religion of Muslim (Ekman, 2015). The scenario against the Muslims has
become so adverse and intense that it has increased violence in society today.
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The hatred that is spread online has kindled people to take adverse steps against people who
belong to the Muslim or Islam community. The online communities have further instigated
the feelings of hatred among people regarding the Muslim community as it has increased the
appeal to a wide range of audience or people (Sirgy et al., 2018). The increase in terrorist
activities has further increased the fear and hatred that people have for the people belonging
to the Muslim or Islam community. The dislike among people against Muslims has increased
due to hatred videos and pictures or images against the people who belong to the Muslim
community.
Islamophobia in Western countries
The hatred against the Muslim community has increased due to various terrorist attacks or
activities. It has been observed that people belonging to the Muslim community are not
treated as equal citizens as people belonging to other communities or religion especially in
the countries like France, the United States of America, China and the United States of
America. In the United States of America, it has been observed that most of the American
discriminate against people belonging to the Muslim community (Esposito, 2019). Most of
the citizens of the Western countries do not like to be on the same platform as Muslims or
Islam as they have a notion that people belonging to the Muslim community are linked or
related to terrorism.
The people belonging to the Muslim Community are treated in a different way and are
suspected most of the time for any kind of mishap. As far as the country, the United States of
America is considered most of the people have a prejudice against the Muslim community
and feel that they should not have been staying in their country. The people who thrive in
localities or societies where people from various communities stay together are less biased
against the people of the Muslim community (Kaya, 2015). In the case of the country of
France, it has been observed that its people live in societies or localities in which people from
diverse culture or backgrounds thrive. Thus the citizens of France are less biased towards
people of the Muslim community.
Present scenario of Islamophobia in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the activities of prejudice or discrimination against people belonging
to the Muslim or Islam community have increased. In the year 2018, it was observed that
women belonging to Muslim or Islam community were mainly targeted by teenage
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performers. A group called “Tell Mama” developed in the country monitored that mainly
Muslim or Islam women were targeted in the United Kingdom. It has been observed that
face-to-face attacks against Muslims have increased by 26% in recent years as compared to
attacks on social media platforms. The terror attacks in Manchester and London have
triggered the hatred against Muslims among the people in the United Kingdom
(Theguardian.com, 2018).
The incidents of Tell Mama have not been investigated adequately by the police force in the
nation, the United Kingdom. The attacks that took place in 2018 were 839 in number as
compared to the number that was 642 in the year 2017. An incident of suicide attack or
suicide bomb in Manchester leads to the death of 23 people resulted in an increase in
prejudice among people belonging to the Islam community. It resulted in an increase in the
number of speeches of hatred, along with abusive behaviour that was aired on social media
platforms (The Independent.co.uk, 2018). The situation is growing adverse day by day in the
country of the United Kingdom. The youngster of the country is becoming more biased and
practising discrimination against the women of Muslim or Islam community in the country.
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Methodology
The research or the investigation on “Is social media increasing Islamophobia in the UK” was
carried out in order to find out the prejudice that is practised against people belonging to the
Muslim community in the United Kingdom.
In order to investigate the topic “Is social media increasing Islamophobia in the UK” primary
as well as secondary methods of research has been used for data collection. Primary methods
of data collection include the process of collecting data by organising surveys or conducting
interviews. Secondary methods of data collection involve the process of collecting data from
journals, books or articles that have been published on the topic (Jentoft and Olsen, 2019).
There are two methods of data collection, namely the quantitative and qualitative method of
data collection. The data that is collected by organising surveys are known as quantitative
methods of data collection as the data so collected can be measured or calculated. The data
that is collected by conducting interviews are known as qualitative methods of data
collection. The data so collected by using these means cannot be calculated or measured.
In order to collect data or information for the topic In order to investigate the topic “Is social
media increasing Islamophobia in UK” 10 people have been surveyed. A questionnaire of 11
questions was prepared and was distributed among 10 people in order to collect their
feedback. The questions were developed such that the relationship between Islamophobia and
social media can be figured out, and its affect on the lives and perception of people can be
estimated. Two people were interviewed with respect to the questions developed on the
relation between Islamophobia and social media (Fabijan et al., 2015).
The research design that has been used in order to investigate the topic “Is social media
increasing Islamophobia in the UK” is exploratory research methodology. The research
approach that has been used in order to investigate the topic is deductive research approach as
the topic has been generalised in the form of general to specific (Research-Methodology.net,
2019). The books, journals, or articles that have been published before have been deduced in
this assignment. In order to conduct the research on the topic chosen, simple random
sampling has been used that is in this process every member of the population has equal
chances of being chosen or participation in the surveys or interviews for the process of data
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collection. The bias associated with this form of sampling is less, and the process of forming
a sample in a large population is easy.
Findings and Investigation
Quantitative Analysis
Q1. What is your age?
Age Group Responses Total respondents Percentage (%)
18-24 5 10 50%
25-34 2 10 20%
35-44 3 10 30%
45-54 0 10 0
55-64 0 10 0
65-74 0 10 0
Table 1: Response Recorded
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74
5
2
3
0 0 0
Responses
Figure 1: Response Recorded
Analysis
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The survey that was conducted mainly comprised of people who belong to younger
generation as it can be observed in the table and the graph above that 50% of people who
were interviewed belonged to the age group of 18 years to 24 years, while 20% of people
belonged to the age group of 25 years to 34 years and 30% of people belonged to the age
group of 35 years to 44 years.
Q2. Do you know what “Islamophobia” is?
Options Responses Total respondents Percentage (%)
Yes 7 10 70%
No 3 10 30%
Table 2: Response Recorded
Yes No
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2.5
Responses
Figure 2: Response Recorded
Analysis
The data that has been collected shows that 7 out of 10 people are aware of the term
Islamophobia that is it can be stated most of the people are aware of the term Islamophobia.
Only 30% of the people who were surveyed had no idea of the term “Islamophobia”.
Q3. Where do you get your news information from?
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Options Responses Total respondents Percentage (%)
Community 1 10 10%
Local 2 10 20%
Regional 4 10 40%
National 3 10 30%
International 0 10 0
Table 3: Response Recorded
Community Local Regional National International
1
2
4
3
0
Responses
Figure 3: Response Recorded
Analysis
The ten people who were surveyed in order to collect information or data regarding the
channels or the means from which they get to know about Islamophobia shows that 4 out of
10 people got to know about it from regional channels. 30% of people get the knowledge or
information of Islamophobia from national channels while 2 out of 10 people get the data
from local channels. Only 10% of people get data regarding Islamophobia from the
community. Therefore, it can be stated that regional channels of data or information are the
main sources of information regarding Islamophobia and international channels or means of
information or data play no role in this.
Q4. How often do you watch/listen to it?
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Options Responses Total respondents Percentage (%)
Always 4 10 40%
Often 3 10 30%
Sometimes 1 10 10%
Seldom 1 10 10%
Never 1 10 10%
Table 4: Response Recorded
40%
30%
10%
10%
10%
Responses
Always Often Sometimes Seldom Never
Figure 4: Response Recorded
Analysis
The frequency of means or the channels of data that are used in order to let people know
about Islamophobia is important to be figured out in order to estimate the reach of these
channels to people in the United Kingdom. The data so obtained shows that people use these
channels of data always like 40% of people voted for it. 30% of people voted that they watch
or listen to these channels often while 10% of people voted that they never, seldom, or
sometimes watch or listen to these channels or means of data or information.
Q5. Do you use social media?
Options Responses Total respondents Percentage (%)
Yes 8 10 80%
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