Young people from Black and racial minoritized communities are often exposed to racist content on social media, according to a recent report. This exposure occurs at least once a week for most individuals surveyed, leading to feelings of decreased safety and harm to mental health.
A study conducted by researchers from Goldsmiths, University of London involved 809 young people aged 16 to 24 in Britain. The findings revealed that a large percentage of participants encountered violent or abusive racist content online, with some experiencing it daily. This exposure also included private messages containing racist material and posts on personal feeds.
The impact of this exposure extended offline, affecting feelings of safety, mental health, and friendships outside of their ethnic group. Despite these negative effects, a significant number of participants reported experiencing abuse on social media platforms, often with unsatisfactory responses. Only a small percentage reported the abuse to the police, with mixed outcomes.
The study highlighted the prevalence of social media usage among young people, with the majority checking their accounts multiple times a day. The report is part of the Race and Social Media project led by David Woodger, Dr. Naomi Thompson, Natalie Law, and Leo Freund-Williams.
In response to the findings, Mr. Woodger emphasized the need for social media platforms to address racial content more effectively. He noted that many young people felt disillusioned with the current response mechanisms and called for better engagement with users to combat racism online.
The report marks the first comprehensive study of young BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) groups and their experiences with social media platforms in the UK. Quotations from participants reflected the distress caused by encountering racist content online and the importance of creating safer spaces for marginalized communities.
Overall, the study underscores the urgent need for social media platforms to take action against racist content and provide better support for affected individuals. It also emphasizes the resilience and resourcefulness of young people in creating their own supportive communities amidst online hostility.
