Social Tie Strength and Online Victimization : An Analysis of Young People Aged 15-30 Years in Four Nations

Online interaction through the use of social networking sites (SNS) continues to be a significant component of the socialization of young people today, yet little research exists toward linking various relational forms to prevalent and much-studied online risks cross-nationally. This article provides a link between relational dynamics and online risks identified in previous research toward a new perspective on how social tie strength is related to experiences of hate victimization and harassment online. The analysis is based on survey data of Finnish (n = 555), American (n = 1033), German (n = 978), and British (n = 999) young people aged 15-30 years. Variables, including age, gender, main activity, SNS use, quantity, and extent of online and offline social networks including social tie strength and online community identification, were analyzed toward finding their associations with online hate victimization and harassment. Results showed that experiences of hate victimization and harassment were similar cross-nationally and that those who were personally harassed online also reported high SNS activity. Furthermore, no association was found between social network size and negative experiences. Notable cross-national differences were also detected in the results. Findings emphasize the importance of understanding variables fostering online risks for young people while providing a new perspective on what aspects of social life may help negate negative effects online.Peer reviewe

Online Hate and Harmful Content : Cross-National Perspectives

Peer reviewe

Online Hate and Harmful Content

Over the past few decades, various types of hate material have caused increasing concern. Today, the scope of hate is wider than ever, as easy and often-anonymous access to an enormous amount of online content has opened the Internet up to both use and abuse. By providing possibilities for inexpensive and instantaneous access without ties to geographic location or a user identification system, the Internet has permitted hate groups and individuals espousing hate to transmit their ideas to a worldwide audience. Online Hate and Harmful Content focuses on the role of potentially harmful online content, particularly among young people. This focus is explored through two approaches: firstly, the commonality of online hate through cross-national survey statistics. This includes a discussion of the various implications of online hate for young people in terms of, for example, subjective wellbeing, trust, self-image and social relationships. Secondly, the book examines theoretical frameworks from the fields of sociology, social psychology and criminology that are useful for understanding online behaviour and online victimisation. Limitations of past theory are assessed and complemented with a novel theoretical model linking past work to the online environment as it exists today. An important and timely volume in this ever-changing digital age, this book is suitable for graduates and undergraduates interested in the fields of Internet and new media studies, social psychology and criminology. The analyses and findings of the book are also particularly relevant to practitioners and policy-makers working in the areas of Internet regulation, crime prevention, child protection and social work/youth work

Words Are Actions : More Efficient Measures against Hate Speech and Cyberbullying

On 14 November 2018, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education and Culture launched a project with the task of drafting proposals for more efficient eradication of hate speech punishable under the Criminal Code and harassment prohibited by law. In the course of its work, the working group also dealt with hate campaigns and targeting. An expert working group with representatives from different fields was appointed to carry out the project. The working group was chaired by Archbishop Emeritus Kari Mäkinen, and a secretariat composed of public officials was set up to assist it. During the preparation stage of the project, the working group consulted a variety of researchers, hate crime victims, professionals working with young people, and other key stakeholders. The working group considers hate speech such a serious problem that policies for its eradication must be included in the Government Programme or another similar document and a specific action plan against hate speech must be drawn up. The working group presents a total of 13 recommendations for developing more efficient measures to tackle hate speech and cyberbullying. The recommendations can be implemented as part of the action plan to be drawn up

Now you see me, now you don't: A study of the relationship between internet anonymity and Finnish young people

Siirretty Doriast

Young children on TikTok:an interview study of Finnish parents

Abstract. Social media has been in an era of change since TikTok has entered the market with its virality. TikTok is most popular among younger children aged between eight and twelve years old, the platform has gathered attention of many. Both research and media have shown their interest around the topic. Research has publications from multiple different disciplines ranging from medical publications to studies done in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). This study investigates what possible threats TikTok can bring to children and what is the parents’ role in addressing these threats. By identifying these threats can they be lessened and discussed to promote healthy social media use among children. A semi-structured interview was conducted with five Finnish parents to find out what the parents are doing to guard their children from TikTok’s threats and what threats have the parents found to come true regarding their children and TikTok use. The results indicate that parents believe TikTok is prone to promote addiction and eating disorders. Stranger danger, cyberbullying, harmful content, anti-privacy advice, unhealthy marketing, hate speech and misinformation are also possible threats of TikTok use for children. The possible negative effects of TikTok for children are varying and parents have a leading role in moderating social media use of children. Communicating and educating the children is to be highlighted and parents need to model a healthy relationship with social media for children. Future research should further investigate how addiction can influence children who use TikTok. Also, the technical solutions to protects children from threats on TikTok is a worthy research area for future

Connecting the Dots: Young people, social inclusion & digitalisation

The s ymposium Connecting the d ots: y oung p eople, s ocial i nclusion and d igitalisation was an initiative of the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe i n the field of youth ( hereinafter, the EU - C oE youth partnership) and marked its 20 th anniversary. The s ymposium took place in Tallinn on 26 - 28 June 2018. The event was organised in co - operation with the Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia . Bringing together 111 y outh p olicy makers, y outh r esearchers, and y outh w orkers and representatives of civil society , the s ymposium focused on exploring the intersection between social inclusion of young people and digitalisation, creating a space to learn and explore participants’ practices and experiences, and developing future ideas on the role of the youth sector in connecting digitalisation and social inclusion

ICPR2017 – The Fourth International Conference on Practice Research: overview

This paper reports issues arising from the Fourth International Conference on Practice Research, held in Hong Kong in May 2017. The issues were identified by specially convened group of conference participants, and include the need to develop a better language to describe practice research in terms that make sense to practitioners, improved support for practitioners to conduct research, recognising the different drivers for practice research in different countries, and enhancing practitioners' coordinating and leadership roles

Virtually Standing Up or Standing By? Correlates of Enacting Social Control Online

Research has consistently established the robustness of the bystander effect, or the tendency of individuals to not intervene on behalf of others in emergency situations. This study examines the bystander effect in an online setting, focusing on factors that lead individuals to intervene, and therefore enact informal social control, on behalf of others who are being targeted by hate material. To address this question, we use an online survey (N=647) of youth and young adults recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans. Results demonstrate that the enactment of social control is positively affected by the existence of strong offline and online social bonds, collective efficacy, prior victimization, self-esteem, and an aversion for the hate material in question. Additionally, the amount of time that individuals spend online affects their likelihood of intervention. These findings provide important insights into the processes that underlie informal social control and begin to bridge the gap in knowledge between social control in the physical and virtual realms