Snapchat Fails Online Hate Targets, Twitter and Facebook Struggle, New Report Finds
A new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals that social media platforms are inadequately supporting victims of online hate and harassment. ADL’s Support for Targets of Online Hate Report Card assigned ratings to nine tech companies based on 11 essential features necessary for effectively safeguarding targets of online hate. Twitch received the highest grade with a B for incorporating nine out of the 11 features. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube achieved a C rating, while Twitter and Facebook fell behind with a C minus grade. Discord and Reddit received a D, and Snapchat received the lowest score of F, as it only had two out of the 11 features.
ADL Vice President and head of the Center for Technology and Society, Yael Eisenstat, expressed disappointment in these platforms, stating that they often fail to deliver on their promises of protecting users from hate and harassment. Eisenstat emphasized the importance of ensuring that the new generation of social media companies provide adequate options and support for those affected by online hate, especially considering the emergence of new platforms.
To create the list of 11 fundamental platform features, ADL relied on recommendations from organizations like PEN America, UNESCO and ICFJ, ADL, and The World Wide Web Foundation. These features were classified into five categories: Communication with Targets, Support for Targets of Networked Harassment, Blocking, Muting, and Filtering. Based on the implementation and effectiveness of these features, the social media platforms were assessed and graded.
ADL’s Director of Research, Jordan Kraemer, highlighted the need for platforms to include the experiences of targets of hate in product development and design. Kraemer urged platforms to fulfill their responsibility of not only preventing the existence of online hate and harassment but also protecting the targets when these efforts fail. According to ADL’s recent Online Hate and Harassment survey, rates of online harassment have steadily risen, with 52 percent of American adults experiencing online hate or harassment, the highest rate since 2020.
It is evident that social media platforms have a long way to go in effectively combating online hate and providing robust support for victims. By prioritizing the well-being and safety of their users, platforms can demonstrate their commitment to making meaningful improvements. The ADL’s report serves as a wake-up call for social media companies to address this issue and take decisive actions to protect their users from the harmful effects of online hate and harassment.
