Hate Speech on Social Media Platforms and Its Implications for National Reconciliation from the Perspective of University Youth: A Field Study of a Sample of Students at the Faculty of Media, Al-Marj Branch, University of Benghazi

Abstract

This study aimed to know the concept of hate and its forms expressed through social media platforms and their contribution to the promotion and marketing of hate speech, its reflection on national reconciliation, the degree of its use and communication methods that most contribute to the marketing of hate speech, and the degree of its impact on national reconciliation from the point of view of university youth, and to clarify the reasons for the spread of influential hate speech. On national reconciliation, the mechanisms of limiting it, and its impact on the system of social and cultural values in Libyan society, due to the nature of the study and in order to achieve its objectives, the researcher relied on the descriptive approach. Where he used the questionnaire form as a main tool for collecting data and information. The study sample consisted of 121 male and female students distributed among the scientific departments of the Faculty of Information, Al-Marj branch. Hatred, as the results of the study showed that YouTube, snapchat, and Facebook are three of the most important social platforms that serve national reconciliation to a high degree, unlike other sites (Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Messenger), which serve national reconciliation and unity to a weak degree. The class is among Libyan society, as the results of the study showed that social media platforms are classified from the point of view of university youth to a large extent as an effective tool for promoting and marketing hate speech, as they (always) contribute to promoting hate speech and its reflection and impact on national reconciliation in Libya. The impact of hate speech on social, religious and cultural values, and the study recommended the need to set restrictions to control social platforms and determine the quality of speech and prosecute them with the development of deterrent laws and applicable to publishing and display in these platforms, and the development of the skill of critical thinking and how to deal consciously with the contents of social networking platforms and distinction Beit Maho Negative and harmful and what is positive and beneficial and developing programmes and activities and intensifying and coordinating awareness campaigns about the dangers of discrimination and hate speech in social platforms and their effects on society, while developing a culture of tolerance, dialogue and acceptance of others.