Answer to Question #250746 in Law for Sam

Question

What is the impact of social media on racism? (125 words) 5 marks

Answer 1

Social media connects people around the globe instantly, so it’s not surprising it has become a space for movement building, sharing ideas and supporting transformational change.

However, social media has, with growing frequency, been used to amplify deep historical fissures that divide communities and has been employed as a tool to spread racism, fake news, hate speech and harassment. As social media have come to dominate socio-political landscapes in almost every corner of the world, new and old racist practices increasingly take place on these platforms. Racist speech thrives on social media, including through covert tactics such as the weaponization of memes and use of fake identities to incite racist hatred