The report 'Polish Internet users on hate 2019-2024' by a linguist and media expert, a professor at SWPS University, was based on a survey of a representative group of 815 Polish Internet users over the age of 15. It was conducted in two waves - in March 2019 and November 2024.

The survey included questions about understanding hate and views on it, an experiences related to hate. Respondents were also asked to identify the groups most at risk of hate and the reasons for which those groups are criticized.

The study shows that Internet users can distinguish between hate and criticism. For 67% of them, hate is 'statements aimed at causing someone distress', for 66% - 'hateful statements', and only for 34% - 'any public criticism of other people or their views'.

45% of respondents encountered hate in 2024; 28% of respondents admitted that they had been criticized online. The youngest generation was particularly vulnerable to this - almost half (48%) of people in the 15-24 age group encountered negative comments about themselves.

On the other hand, 37% of respondents admitted that they had published a critical opinion on a topic online. Young respondents were the most inclined to do so, with as many as 46% of those aged 15-24 making such a declaration. Men (44%) expressed criticism online more often than women (30%).

Five years earlier, in 2019, the results were higher: 52% of respondents declared that they had encountered hate, 30% admitted to being the subject of it, and 45% - to expressing critical opinions.

'These results may indicate the normalization of the hate phenomenon and that Internet users have become accustomed to communication habits containing negative content. Perhaps what was considered hate five years ago is now within the norm, because the norm of public communication itself has lowered, and the concept of hate is associated with more drastic forms of linguistic violence', comments Marek Kochan, quoted in a press release.

According to Internet users, the most frequently hated group in 2024 - similarly to five years earlier - is sexual minorities (63 and 64 percent respectively). According to respondents, the following also encounter offensive criticism: overweight people (57 percent in 2024, an increase of 13 percentage points), celebrities (52 percent, a decrease of 11 percentage points), politicians (47 percent, a decrease of 13 percentage points) and immigrants (45 percent, a decrease of 4 percentage points). Last year, according to respondents, priests (36 percent), Jews (35 percent) and religious people (30 percent) were also attacked online quite often. Compared to 2019, there is also more hate towards the disabled (an increase of 7 percentage points, to 27 percent).

'These data show a significant change in the habits of Internet users. The targets of hate are slightly less often privileged groups or those in the media spotlight, they more often belong to unprivileged groups, with a lower social status', Marek Kochan comments.

The vast majority of respondents, as many as 87%, consider hate to be a serious social problem. According to 90% of respondents, it should be combated. Women are more strongly in favour of this. Support for counteracting this phenomenon also increases with the level of education.

The study shows that Internet users believe that the fight against hate should be carried out in a way that does not restrict freedom of speech. 66% of respondents were in favour of this (3 percentage points less than in 2019). On the other hand, 27% were ready to sacrifice freedom of speech online in order to eliminate hateful comments. For 7% of respondents, freedom of speech was more important than the fight against hate. (PAP)

ekr/ agt/