Title: Online Hate Speech as a Moral Issue: Exploring Moral Reasoning of Young Italian Users on Social Network Sites.
Authors: Ieracitano, Francesca; Balenzano, Caterina; Girardi, Sabrina; Gemmano, Cataldo Giuliano; Comunello, Francesca
Abstract: Taking a neo-Kohlbergian approach, we explore the moral reasoning of 486 young Italian users of social network sites exposed to moral dilemmas concerning online hate speech. The aims are to understand what moral reasoning schemas they use as they face homophobic, racist, or sexist online hate speech, and what influence personal values and moral disengagement might have on their moral reasoning process. The results reveal the prevalence of Maintaining Norms reasoning (conformity to rules and authority) in making moral decisions concerning online hate speech and confirms the mediating role of Hate Speech Moral Disengagement in the relationship between personal values and the moral reasoning process.
Subjects: ONLINE social networks; MORAL reasoning; HATE speech; MORAL disengagement; VIRTUAL communities; ETHICAL problems
Publication: Social Science Computer Review, 2024, Vol 42, Issue 1, p25
ISSN: 0894-4393
Publication type: Academic Journal
DOI: 10.1177/08944393231161124

Online Hate Speech as a Moral Issue: Exploring Moral Reasoning of Young Italian Users on Social Network Sites.

Ieracitano, Francesca; Balenzano, Caterina; Girardi, Sabrina; Gemmano, Cataldo Giuliano; Comunello, Francesca