In today's digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for communication, enabling users to express their opinions while also exposing them to various forms of hateful speech and content. While prior research has often focused on the efficacy of online counterspeech, little is known about peoples' motivations for engaging in it. Based on a survey of 458 U.S. participants, we develop and validate a multi-item scale for understanding counterspeech motivations, revealing that differing motivations impact counterspeech engagement between those that do and not find counterspeech to be an effective mechanism for counteracting online hate. Additionally, our analysis explores peoples' perceived effectiveness of their self-written counterspeech to hateful posts, influenced by individual motivations to engage in counterspeech and demographic factors. Finally, we examine peoples' willingness to employ AI assistance, such as ChatGPT, in their counterspeech writing efforts. Our research provides insight into the factors that influence peoples' online counterspeech activity and perceptions, including the potential role of AI assistance in countering online hate. / Master of Science / In today's digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for communication, enabling users to express their opinions while also exposing them to various forms of hateful speech and content. In addition to content moderation, counterspeech, or direct responses aimed at undermining hateful speech, is a tool that is being explored by organizations to counteract online hate, as it has been shown to prevent "platform hopping" while also promoting free speech. While prior research has primarily focused on the effectiveness of various types of counterspeech, little is known about what motivates people to engage in it. Based on a survey of 458 U.S. participants, we develop and validate a multi-item scale for understanding counterspeech motivations, revealing that differing motivations impact counterspeech engagement between those that do and not find counterspeech to be an effective mechanism for counteracting online hate. Additionally, our analysis explores peoples' perceived effectiveness of their counterspeech, influenced by individual motivations to engage in counterspeech and demographic factors. Finally, we examine peoples' willingness to employ AI assistance, such as ChatGPT, in their counterspeech writing efforts. Our research provides insight into the factors that influence peoples' online counterspeech activity and perceptions, including the potential role of AI assistance in countering online hate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/117341 |
| Date | 11 January 2024 |
| Creators | Kumar, Anisha |
| Contributors | Computer Science and Applications, Rho, Ha Rim, Lee, Sang Won, Seyam, Mohammed Saad Mohamed Elmahdy |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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