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We Don't Like Your Type Around Here: Regional and Residential Differences in Exposure to Online Hate Material Targeting Sexuality

NCJ Number
254218
Journal
Deviant Behavior Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: 2019 Pages: 385-401
Date Published
2019
Length
17 pages
Annotation

With the objective of identifying factors related to the prevalence of receiving online hate material that targets a user's sexual orientation, the current study obtained data from a sample of 968 Internet users with ages that ranged from 15 to 36.

Abstract

Using a logistic regression analysis, the study found that social network usage, online antagonism, informal online social control, and a lack of online anonymity increased the likelihood of being targeted for hateful messages regarding sexual orientation. Moreover, individuals living in the southern region of the United States were nearly three times as likely to be targeted by hate related to sexual orientation; whereas those living in rural areas were more than twice as likely to face such targeting. (publisher abstract modified)

Date Published: January 1, 2019