Abstract
In this chapter we take a broad view of the social psychology of intergroup relations and apply it to the internet. We start by addressing two popular propositions about the internet. The first of these is that the internet is a safe haven for racists who, using the cover of anonymity, engage in hostile flaming of members of other communities. We can call this first proposition the anonymous cyberhate view of the internet. The second popular proposition is the idea that the internet is a hotbed of social activism where people develop plans to change the world using a device that spans continental boundaries. We call this second proposition the global activist view of the internet.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Strategic Uses of Social Technology: An Interactive Perspective of Social Psychology |
Editors | Zachary Birchmeier, Beth Dietz-Uhler, Garold Stasser |
Place of Publication | U.S. |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 145-171 |
Number of pages | 27 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780521899260 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |