Youths as targets: factors of online hate speech victimization among adolescents and young adults

A significant number of adolescents and young adults are targeted by online hate speech. The effect of such hateful utterances can involve severe psychological harm, especially for youths who have to master developmental tasks. Therefore, drawing on criminology's routine activity theory, this study investigates the factors that help explain why youths become victimized through online hate speech. We conducted a national quota-based quantitative online survey that was representative of adolescent and young adult online users (N = 1,180). In the results, we identified six latent profiles of young targets with overall high or low online hate speech victimization, victimization due to gender, migration background, religion, or political engagement on behalf of the queer community. While relative subjective deprivation, political participation, and lower digital media literacy positively predicted overall victimization through online hate speech, being targeted was more likely for members of the aforementioned social groups and those showing political engagement. Lay Summary Many adolescents and young adults are affected by online hate speech. When a person is exposed to statements that offend a group of people they feel they belong to, it can have devastating consequences. This is especially the case with youths, who do not yet have a consolidated personality. Consequently, drawing on a criminological theoretical framework, we seek to explain why youths become targets of online hate speech. For this purpose, we surveyed 1,180 adolescents and young adults in Germany. We found groups of young people who are significantly (or very little) affected by online hate speech against the various groups they belong to. In addition, groups of youths experience being insulted online only due to their gender, migration background, religion, or commitment to the queer community. We also found that youths who see themselves as disadvantaged compared to others, are politically engaged online, and are less comfortable with and competent in social media are more likely to be affected by online hate speech.