Report: Social media platforms, gaming sites fail to prevent online hate

The 27th annual Digital Terrorism Report was released in partnership with the New York City Council and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

News 12 Staff

Apr 28, 2022, 9:54 PM

Updated 895 days ago

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A new report found that social media platforms and gaming sites fell short in preventing online hate.
The 27th annual Digital Terrorism Report was released in partnership with the New York City Council and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
"Hate speech and violence live online and through digital platforms that reach our children," says City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, says the report names and shames social networks and gaming sites for failing to prevent online hate before it manifests into violence. Cooper says communicating with your kids is key to protecting them.
"Social media's great, it's fun. It's not a very good babysitter because you just don't know where the kids are going and how far it's going to go," says Cooper.
Grades range from a C for Facebook and Instagram to an F for Gab and Brighteon, two lesser-known networking and video sites that still have millions of users.
Adams says the Jewish community in New York is still the most targeted for hate crimes, which can be fueled by misinformation and antisemitism as well as conspiracy theories online.
"The Anti-Defamation League recorded more than 416 antisemitic incidents in New York last year alone," says Adams.
The City Council is calling on the mayor's office to pledge $5 million for community hate crime prevention and response work.