Web hate speeches and strategies to combat them

Abstract

Although the discourse of hate and hostile behaviours have been present in human societies since their origins, today hate speech has taken on unprecedented characteristics, due to the changes in global online communication (Ziccardi 2016). The spreading of incitement to hatred on the web – which remains an unreplaceable means of information - worries because of its transversal nature and its capacity to foster tribalism, general aggressivity, polarization, “original” racisms (Pasta 2018) in an unprecedented way.

The article provides an analysis of the specific characteristics taken on by online hate speech, which is continuously evolving (Santerini 2019). It then highlights the connection between rational consciousness and “unconscious” behaviours, on the basis of current research on “affective neuroscience” (Immordino Yang 2017).  In the light of the emotional aspects of hostility some forms of contrast to hate speech are identified and categorised, in order to obtain indications for pedagogical intervention.