The UK’s new Online Safety Act, programmed for implementation in the second half of next year, could reshape how social media platforms deal with harmful online content. This legislation aims to protect users by requiring platforms to swiftly remove illegal material such as hate speech and incitement to violence. While this marks a significant step forward in addressing online abuse, our research offers further insight into why such measures are necessary.
Our April 2024 study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, shows that even leisure-oriented spaces can become breeding grounds for verbal violence that can lead to harassment and disturbing patterns of abuse, including what we call “blood games” – verbal attacks for entertainment. While our research zooms in on one specific community, it reveals broader patterns that echo across today’s social media platforms.
