Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech

12th Grade Lesson Five: Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech

Free to Hate?

Reflect On...

What is censorship?

What is an example?

Censorship

Censorship is when an authority (such as a person, government, organization, or religion) cuts out or suppresses ideas or speech.

Does censorship happen here in the United States?

Wouldn't that violate our freedom of speech?

Censorship can happen in the United States for many reasons (though it may not always be enforced), including:

When someone's speech violates the rights of others -- for example, if someone is inciting violence against someone.
When someone's speech is intended to provoke violence from someone -- for example, through insults or personal attacks.
When the authority is not the government -- for example, a company like Facebook or Twitter can censor certain types of speech they don't want used on their platform by, for example, "bleeping out" profanity.

Certain types of speech have been protected from censorship by the Supreme Court. One of those types of speech is called hate speech. Recently, however, because of some well-publicized stories involving hate speech online, the debate about whether hate speech should be protected has been renewed.

Hate Speech

Hate speech is when someone makes cruel, hostile, or negative statements about someone based on their race, religion, national origin, ability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

Reflect on...

Why are some people for censoring hate speech online?

Why are some against?

According to the audio clip, why are some people for censoring hate speech online? Why are some against?

Here are some examples:

For Censoring Hate Speech

It can feel threatening or offensive to others.
It can lead to violence when people are able to interact with others around radicalized, hateful ideas.
It reduces the reach of hateful groups.

Against Censoring Hate Speech

It's not always easy to define (for example, what is a "direct threat"?).
Pushing people with hateful opinions "into the shadows" doesn't solve the problem.
It allows others to confront hate speech.
People disagree on what qualifies as "hate speech."

Activity

Free to Hate?

Complete part 1 by yourself. (Make a copy of google doc to fill in sections)

Grade 12 - Should Online Hate Speech Be Censored? - Free to Hate? Student Handout

Directions:

Complete Part 1 on the Free to Hate? worksheet individually.

Choose TWO resources listed below and take notes in the Free to Hate? worksheet on page 2.

Choose TWO resources to review:

Should online hate speech be protected from censorship?

Here are some examples:

What Does Free Speech Mean on College Campuses?

For Censoring Online Hate Speech

Sets a precedent for allowing hate speech in the future.
It's mean, offensive, and hurtful.
It can present safety risks.

Against Censoring Online Hate Speech

It's generally protected under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The government shouldn't get to decide what constitutes "hate speech" (what if they try to censor satire?).
Hearing people whom you disagree with helps sharpen your own views.

The 3 Rules of Hate Speech: Free Speech Rules (Episode 2)

For Censoring Online Hate Speech

When hate speech incites or promotes violence, it is not legally protected.

Against Censoring Online Hate Speech

There is no legal definition or rule against hate speech.
Government cannot be trusted to ban ideas, even if they are hateful. Who knows what they might ban in the future.

GoDaddy Bans Neo-Nazi Website Daily Stormer in Crackdown on Hate Speech

For Censoring Online Hate Speech

Private companies have a responsibility to remove speech that can lead to violence against people.

Against Censoring Online Hate Speech

Although people might like speech they disagree with being removed, they wouldn't like it if their own posts were removed.

What's Gab, the Social Platform Used by the Pittsburgh Shooting Suspect?

For Censoring Online Hate Speech

Sites that allow hate speech serve as "echo chambers" that fuel racist beliefs and help them grow new "branches."
Hate speech can turn into hate actions.

Against Censoring Online Hate Speech

The answer to "bad" speech should be more speech.
Words are not bullets. The person who commits violence should be blamed, not a site that allows their speech.