Enab Baladi – Amir Huquq
“Vile and inciting discourse that fosters hatred, animosity, and violence ignites strife and spreads disagreements among the Syrian people, hindering civil peace,” is one of the prominent characterizations attributed to the speeches and posts on social media, according to social and media experts.
Social media contributes to the spread of hate speech, which plays a pivotal role in the current security events in Syria, given the Syrian audience’s reliance on these platforms due to the absence of official media channels.
Sectarian trend
The spread of an audio recording on social media weeks ago sparked outrage among users, as it contained disrespect towards the Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze religious leader, a claim later denied by the Syrian Ministry of Interior and the sheikh himself.
User reactions amplified following an altercation among students in university housing in the city of Homs on the evening of April 27, after the audio recording circulated.
Hate speech through comments and posts by some social media users incited others, taking a sectarian direction that incited violence, hatred, and discord, leading to sparks of unrest in the city of Jaramana, which extended to the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, and the province of As-Suwayda.
The most serious threats to peace
Due to the influx of incitement and agitation discourse, severe and intense disputes arise among Syrians, generating crises or events that are incompatible with the current sensitivity in Syria.
Ghada Youssef, a professor at the Faculty of Media at the University of Damascus and a media expert, stated to Enab Baladi that social media has become a major factor in the spread of hate speech, especially in light of the absence of legal systems and professional charters to limit such discourse.
According to expert Youssef, hate speech is considered one of the most serious threats to civil peace and community security in Syria over the past decade, and it is one of the most concerning and complicated factors globally, given its intertwining with the concept of freedom of opinion and expression. One of the most troubling trends in this context is the noticeable increase in hate speech on social media platforms, especially during crises or politically or socially tense situations.
Social media users, due to the nature of some platforms like Facebook and X, find themselves surrounded by a bubble of fake news and inciting messages that reinforce preconceived opinions and judgments. The internet also plays a vital role in shaping public opinion, as it is considered fertile ground for inciting hate speech.
Youssef explained that this information can turn into a tool used either deliberately or unintentionally to incite or mislead the public or influence them, often resulting in serious consequences with a divisive effect.
Social media allows individuals inciting hatred to easily and quickly reach a broad audience, as it is less regulated and does not face the restrictions imposed on traditional media, making it open to anyone wishing to exploit it without revealing their identity.
Fluctuation of social values
Expert Ghada Youssef believes it is essential to take a neutral stance towards hate speech. Although laws prohibiting this kind of speech may negatively affect the democratic character of societies, they do not harm any of the values of democracy. Banning hate speech does not stop citizens from having negative thoughts but aims solely to protect others from the harm resulting from expressing those thoughts.
Moreover, education about human rights and respecting diversity holds great significance in promoting tolerance within societies, but it is not enough on its own. It is also crucial to combat hate speech and reduce other risks.
Civil society organizations are forming networks to combat hate speech online and promote support for enacting legal legislation against digital discrimination, in addition to exchanging information and best practices.
Youssef pointed out that those responsible for monitoring society should not allow fluctuating ideas to impose themselves over the strength of scientific arguments based on sound methodological foundations. This falls within the framework of preserving values and protecting communities from the plague of hate speech and fanaticism, as it is challenging to find absolute and achievable hypotheses given the fluctuation of social values and their indicators.
The most dangerous forms of violence
Hate speech, especially when fueled by sectarianism, is considered one of the most dangerous forms of symbolic violence in social psychology, according to social and psychological researcher Dr. Heba Kamal al-Arnous, who spoke to Enab Baladi.
According to al-Arnous, studies addressing the impact of “group bias” indicate that this type of discourse enhances psychological division among individuals, leading to what is known as the “demonization of the other,” a state in which people cease to see the difference as human.
Society’s awareness of the dangers of this discourse is increasing, and there are clear indicators of the role of conscious social media platforms and alternative media in confronting these waves through counter-campaigns that promote values of plurality and shared human belonging.
Emotional contagion
Regarding mobilization towards an incident or occurrence, social media accelerates the process of collective bias through what is known as “emotional contagion,” where feelings of anger and fear spread sequentially within groups and are reproduced through mobilizing content that may lack objectivity. However, these same platforms can be used to achieve quick calming if the discourse is directed wisely and credibly, according to al-Arnous.
She noted the concept of “herd mentality,” which has been observed in social psychology since Gustave Le Bon’s studies (The Psychology of Crowds). This refers to the tendency to repeat group behavior without critical thinking. In the age of social media, this phenomenon becomes more dangerous due to algorithms that promote trending content without verifying its accuracy.
However, the positive aspect in this context, in her view, is that this phenomenon is not a fatalistic destiny but diminishes when critical thinking is reinforced and “media immunity” is developed among individuals, as awareness of how to verify information has become a societal necessity.
Building responsible discourse
Dr. al-Arnous believes that digital discourse today carries a significant ethical and societal responsibility, encompassing numerous priorities:
Building responsible discourse that balances freedom of expression and respect for others.
Promoting verification over exaggerated emotional transmission.
Focusing on common spaces among social components instead of enhancing differences and divisions.
Managing dialogue in a scientific language based on facts rather than impressions.
Social media divides Syrians with hate speech Enab Baladi.
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