Adolescent Perspectives About Online Hate Speech: Qualitative Analysis in the SELMA Project

Authors

  • Maria Markogiannaki MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Leukothea Biniari Agency for Quality Assurance in Primary and Secondary Education, Athens
  • Eleni Panagouli MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Loretta Thomaidis MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Theodoros N. Sergentanis MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ; 3Department of Clinical Therapeutics, ”Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Flora Bacopoulou 1st Department of Pediatrics, ”Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Thomas Babalis Faculty of Primary Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Theodora Psaltopoulou MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ; Department of Clinical Therapeutics, ”Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Maria Tsolia MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Hans Martens European Schoolnet, Brussels,
  • Artemis Tsitsika MSc Program ”Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health”, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, ”P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.342

Keywords:

Online Hate Speech, Qualitative Research, Thematic Analysis, Adolescents, Focus Groups

Abstract

Objective. This paper aims to study the views, perceptions and representations of online hate speech among adolescents in the Greek cohort of the SELMA Project.

Methods. Qualitative research was conducted in focus groups of 36 Greek adolescents and the data were processed through thematic analysis method.

Results. The majority was unfamiliar with the term “hate speech” and confused it with cyberbullying. The target characteristics of hate, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, physical weakness, disability, sexual orientation, and appearance emerged. Regarding people involved in hate speech, perpetrators in both hate speech and bullying were described to share common characteristics. The emphasis was placed on the victims’ resilience, as well as their socialization, as protective behaviors. Participants stressed the value of the right to freedom of speech, although there was no agreement on its limits. Additionally, it was highlighted that awareness of what is right and wrong is mostly taught by parents, while the role of education was also important. An important finding was that the majority of teenagers were optimistic, supporting the belief that it is possible to find a realistic solution.

Conclusion. The findings support the need for prevention strategies in the school environment, so that adolescents will be able to recognize and potentially combat hate speech in the online and offline worlds.

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Published

2021-11-21

How to Cite

Markogiannaki, M., Biniari, L., Panagouli, E., Thomaidis, L., Sergentanis, T. N., Bacopoulou, F., Babalis, T., Psaltopoulou, T., Tsolia, M., Martens, H., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Adolescent Perspectives About Online Hate Speech: Qualitative Analysis in the SELMA Project. Acta Medica Academica, 50(2), 264–276. https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.342

Issue

Section

Clinical Medicine

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