Sweden sees surge in online hate speech among youth

Online hate speech among young people in Sweden has seen a significant increase. According to a report from Internetstiftelsen, the prevalence of online hate among youth aged 12 to 19 rose from approximately 9 percent in 2021 to about 20 percent in 2024, with the most notable increase observed among teenage boys.

Research from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) indicates that hate, including antisemitism, often manifests through memes, coded language, and humor. This method of communication can make extremist content difficult for adults to detect and contributes to the normalization of prejudice. Experts suggest that studying historical processes of dehumanization is relevant to understanding how digital hate can escalate.