The advent of the internet has undeniably raised the degree to which young people are exposed to online hate content, and made it easier for them to share such content. This type of content, which often contains hate speech or language vilifying others, can escalate an individual’s risk of radicalisation and acceptance of violent ideologies. It’s now crucial to examine the risk factors for exposure to such content, and recent studies have pointed to the relationship between low self-control and online activities as significant elements.
Addressing this research gap, a new study centred around 1,193 youths in South Australia has explored the associations between self-control, opportunities to view content, and the exposure or sharing of hate content. The study’s outcomes support the theories posited: self-control correlates with online hate activities, and opportunity factors can mediate the impact of self-control, though the degree of mediation depends on the specific activity. The role of peers, for instance, retains significance in all models, even when controlling for low self-control.
Differences based on demographics also emerged; race and gender were not significant in terms of content viewing, but being male was significantly associated with sharing content that mocks individuals and groups. This aligns with existing research on male involvement in violence and property crime, online hate communities, and violence in physical spaces.
An individual’s social network can often passively expose them to harmful content, which may partially explain the importance of peer behaviour variables. In contrast, actively sharing content requires more agency and action from the individual, with impulsivity and opportunity factors playing key roles. These findings align with the General Theory of Crime, highlighting that an opportunity to deviate must be present for an impulsive individual to act.
Despite the study’s insights, there are limitations. The cross-sectional data limits the understanding of temporal ordering in the theoretical relationships within the models. Additionally, the sample, being derived from the metropolitan region of South Australia, may not be generalisable to other national and regional populations, especially those in rural areas. More longitudinal research and cross-national samples are required to better understand the pathways leading to the viewing and sharing of hateful content by youth, and the regional variations in their engagement with such content.
This analysis nonetheless underscores the value of applying criminological theories to early onset involvement in hate activities. Both self-control and social ties influence youth behaviours, but peer networks are especially important across both viewing and sharing hate content. This implies immediate policy implications to reduce youths’ engagement with hate content while online.
While the removal of extremist websites and forums is deemed an “impossible battle”, studies suggest that hate speech laws can impact rates of exposure to online hate. Thus, it’s essential for policymakers to proactively reduce youth’s potential for engaging with hate content. This includes educating youth about hate messages, teaching them how to flag or report inappropriate content, and promoting responsible engagement with online content. Parents, too, should monitor their child’s online activities, nurturing appropriate behaviours and weeding out deviant ones. By doing so, we can equip youth with the tools to navigate the internet responsibly and minimise their risk of indulging in extremist narratives.