Opinion-based groups : (racist) talk and (collective) action on the internet

Craig McGarty, Girish Lala, Karen M. Douglas

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

    18 Citations (Scopus)

    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 languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationStrategic Uses of Social Technology: An Interactive Perspective of Social Psychology
    EditorsZachary Birchmeier, Beth Dietz-Uhler, Garold Stasser
    Place of PublicationU.S.
    PublisherCambridge University Press
    Pages145-171
    Number of pages27
    ISBN (Print)9780521899260
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Opinion-based groups : (racist) talk and (collective) action on the internet'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this