Discover the intricate interplay between hate speech and media consumption in Lebanon, unveiling how deeply rooted political and sectarian divides shape public perception and discourse.
Reflective qualitative research conducted in January 2023 – as part of the Samir Kassir Foundation (SKF) “Inclusive Media, Cohesive Society” (IMeCS) programme – delved into media practices in Lebanon, focusing on the relationship between hate speech and journalism during times of crisis. Targeting different Lebanese audiences from diverse religious backgrounds and age categories at the grassroots level, the study aimed to understand how individuals encounter, perceive, process, and respond to hate speech.
Inclusive Media Cohesive Society (IMeCS) is a program led by the Samir Kassir Foundation and implemented in partnership with Media Diversity Institute and Thomson Reuters Foundation.
This study’s objectives included:
- Identifying the channels through which media consumers receive hate speech messages.
- Analyzing the elements within hate messages that resonate with recipients.
- Examining the factors within an individual’s personality and environment that influence their susceptibility to hate speech.
- Assessing the implications of hate messages for media consumers and their broader societal consequences.
- Proposing strategies to counteract hate speech in the media.
- Major findings:
- Television emerges as the primary source of news among mainstream media for the majority of participants. They sample various television news bulletins and political programs to assess news credibility and truthfulness, preferring to discern the truth independently due to a widespread distrust of media. Participants are keenly aware of the confessional, sectarian, or partisan biases inherent in the media landscape.
- All forms of Lebanese media – press, radio, television, and websites – are perceived as lacking ethics, credibility, objectivity, and professionalism by most participants. They consume media messages cautiously and skeptically, even when affiliated with their own religious community or political leanings. This generalized mistrust stems from the perception that every media outlet serves the particular interests of its owners, who often have political or business interests. Participants recognize that media organizations promote the agendas of their financiers and sponsors, contributing to a sense of manipulation and misinformation. Additionally, participants criticize media outlets for prioritizing sensationalism and ratings, as well as for practicing selective information dissemination based on vested interests.
- Social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook, enjoy widespread popularity among participants. Local pages are preferred for their accessibility via mobile phones and for providing timely hyper-local news updates. Many participants rely on private WhatsApp groups to stay informed about current events in their neighborhoods, trusting the information shared within these groups due to personal familiarity with the creators and consumers of the news.
- Participants are aware of the economic motives and hidden political agendas driving Lebanese media productions, including the propagation of hate speech. Media outlets and journalists are accused of manipulating public opinion and inciting hostility, often at the behest of religious factions and political parties. Hate speech is identified as a tool used to reinforce sectarian divisions and promote political agendas, contributing to societal unrest and violence.
- While participants’ confessional and political affiliations play a role in their understanding of hate messages, their levels of education and critical thinking are more significant factors. Many participants exhibit information literacy and express resentment towards the political elite, acknowledging the role of social media platforms and electronic armies in disseminating hate speech. However, participants are not immune to hate speech and may struggle to identify it accurately, despite criticizing its exaggerations, aggressive tone, and underlying intentions.
- Hate speech circulates between social media and television, exacerbating tensions among sectarian communities. Traditional divisions are exploited, but hate speech also targets internal divisions within religious groups, such as within Christian factions and Shia subgroups. The Shia community, in particular, is frequently blamed en masse for its perceived affiliation with Hezbollah.
- Participants often encounter hateful discourse on social media but may refrain from intervening in the debate online due to perceived futility or potential risks of involvement in sectarian arguments. While some participants admit to being incited by hate speech, few actively engage in retaliatory actions.
- Participants exhibit varying interpretations of hate speech, influenced by their political and sectarian biases. Some emphasize the manner of expression over the content itself when defining hate speech.
