Mapping Hate speeches in Social Media

Brand-24

Team: Diana Mosquera, Francisco Gallegos, Juan Daniel Vásconez, Karla Mosquera

ML CLUSTERINGNETNOGRAPHYSOCIAL MEDIAHATE SPEECH

This project examined hate speech and anti-rights narratives on major social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Our research identifies, analyzes and contextualizes the arguments and extreme positions emerging in the Ecuadorian digital landscape, providing a comprehensive view of how discriminatory ideas are propagated on social platforms. Through a systematic netnographic analysis, we examine the dynamics of discourses that violate human rights in digital environments. Our methodology combines natural language processing with machine learning clustering to understand the subjectivity, objectivity, and sentiment of narratives. We track strategically selected keywords and track emblematic cases that have catalyzed hate narratives.

Our research mapped several key thematic areas including human rights debates surrounding LGBTIQ+ rights, reproductive freedoms, and gender identity; discrimination through expressions perpetuating stereotypes based on gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background; social movements and narratives delegitimizing progressive and feminist initiatives; migration-related xenophobic discourses targeting migrant communities; security rhetoric promoting authoritarian solutions to social problems; traditional values defense of conservative ideologies and resistance to social change; and natural resources contentious discussions on environmental conservation and extractive industries.
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Key Findings reveal that anti-rights narratives employ seemingly moderate language to convey discriminatory messages. Additionally, moments of social crisis intensify the spread of hate speech. An amplification network exists that includes influencers, media, and organized groups, while digital platforms serve as catalysts for social polarization. This research provides a solid foundation for understanding how discourses that attack human rights are constructed and propagated in the Ecuadorian digital context, crucial information for developing effective containment and response strategies.