From online hate speech to offline hate crime? Testing individual-level associations with a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 15-17

: Kaakinen, Markus; Vauhkonen, Teemu; Vepsäläinen, Janne; Räsänen, Pekka

: James Hawdon, Matthew Costello

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

: 2024

: Research Handbook on Hate and Hate Crimes in Society

: 250

: 262

: 978-1-80392-572-1

: 978-1-80392-573-8

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803925738.00021

: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803925738.00021

This chapter investigates the relationship between online hate speech and offline hate crimes among Finnish adolescents (N = 5,652), aged 15-17. Utilizing nationally representative data from spring 2020, findings indicate a positive correlation between engaging in online hate speech and committing offline hate crimes. Moreover, exposure to hate speech from peers is linked to offline hate crimes among youth with strong intolerant views toward cultural diversity. The study highlights that adolescents involved in offline hate crimes are likely to participate in online hate speech, especially within peer networks that produce such content. The influence of peer-produced hate speech on offline hate crime perpetration is particularly significant among those already reporting intolerant attitudes. This suggests that existing prejudices may amplify the impact of online hate speech on offline behaviors.