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2 clusters · 7 sources · 2 days · First seen 12 days ago · Last updated 11 days ago

Rising online hate speech among European youth

Overview

Reports from Sweden and Portugal indicate a significant rise in online hate speech exposure among children and adolescents.

In Sweden, research from Internetstiftelsen shows that hate speech prevalence among youth aged 12 to 19 increased from approximately 9 percent in 2021 to about 20 percent in 2024, with a notable rise among teenage boys. The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) noted that such content often utilizes memes, humor, and coded language, which can normalize prejudice and make extremist content difficult for adults to detect.

In Portugal, a report from the EU Kids Online 2025 project found that 52% of children and youth encountered online hate speech in the past year, a figure that rises to 72% for adolescents aged 16 to 17. This hate speech targets various factors including gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. The Portuguese study also highlighted broader digital risks, noting that 37% of respondents were exposed to conspiracy theories.

Entities

Sweden Democrats · Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut · Jimmie Åkesson · Internetstiftelsen · Sweden

Timeline

11 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
Portugal youth face rising online hate speech risks
A report shows 52% of Portuguese youth have encountered online hate speech in the last year, with rates reaching 72% among 16-17 year olds. Other risks include conspiracy theories and violent content.
12 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Sweden sees surge in online hate speech among youth
Online hate speech among Swedish youth aged 12–19 has doubled between 2021 and 2024, often utilizing memes and coded language to normalize prejudice.

Sources

barlavento.pt · bvo.nl · correiodamanha.pt · hrportugal.sapo.pt · it-pedagogen.se · sapo.pt · tv4.se