RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Hate Speech on Social Media: Unpacking How Toxic Language Fuels Anti-Immigrant Hostility
A1 Igartua, Juan-José
A1 Ballesteros-Herencia, Carlos A.
A1 Ballesteros Herencia, Carlos Antonio
K1 online hate speech
K1 toxic language
K1 narrative transportation
K1 identity fusion
K1 indirect effects
K1 social networks
AB This study investigates the influence of toxic language in hate speech targeting immigrants, particularly through narrative formats like first-person X (Twitter) threads. Hate speech, defined as promotion of hatred based on personal or group characteristics, increasingly escalateson social media, impacting public attitudes and behaviors. While previous researchhas primarily focused on measuring the scope of hate speech through content analysis and computational methods, there has been limited attention to its effects on audiences.This study presents the results of an online experiment (N = 339) with a 2 × 2 between subjects design that manipulates the presence of toxic language and message popularity. Results indicate that hate messages lacking toxic language promote greater identity fusion with the author of the message, which in turn increases the intention to share the message,reinforces negative attitudes toward immigrants, and increases support for harsh policies against irregular immigration. Moreover, non-toxic hate messages significantly enhance narrative transportation exclusively for individuals with conservative political views, thereby further increasing their intention to share the message. These findings highlight that subtler forms of hate speech can create strong audience connections withhostile perspectives, emphasizing the need for anti-hate campaigns to address both overt and subtle hate content.
PB MDPI
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/82531
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/82531
LA eng
NO Social Sciences, 2026, vol. 15, n. 2, 2-21
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 26-feb-2026