Statistics of hate

The seventh edition of the Intolerance Map by Vox – Italian Observatory on Rights has recently been released and is as follows:

Women (43.21%), followed by people with disabilities (33.95%), Homosexuals (8.78%), Migrants (7.33%), Jews (6.58%) and Muslims (0.15%). 

The survey was presented in Milan and offers insight into the intolerance and hatred disseminated via social media platforms. The survey acknowledged tweets on Twitter posted during the period between January and October 2022, noting that 93% of tweets had negative content, and only 7% had positive. 2021 figures were 69% negative and 31% positive, confirming an increase of 24% in negative content.

Recent current affairs, and repeated reflection bring to light the ongoing issues and concerns over hatred:

Pope Francis confirming that the challenge of disability is not understood by society, as well as defending the plight of the immigrants discussing acceptance, support and being welcoming.

Cecco Zalone (Italian actor) discussing homophobia in Italy, during a monologue about what the community is faced with, using the important Sanremo music festival as a very public platform in order to do so.

Moments of reflection like Remembrance Day where we consider the horrors lived during WW2, and specifically what the Jewish community had to endure.

Tragic events that caused (total) Muslim hatred, like the occasion of the sentencing of those responsible for the Paris Bataclan bombing, and the killing of two Isis leaders in Syria by the American Forces.

It’s clear there’s a need for a rethink. The relationship between media, socials and users needs to be readdressed and improved in order to highlight, and subsequently call out the most radical forms of hatred.

Rhetoric all too often starts in word form and then translates to physical reality – abuse and femicide statistics support this tragic theory in spades. Therefore a cultural change regarding diversity, fairness and inclusion needs to be applied in everyday life immediately. Through collective effort we can all endeavor to identify the needs, fears and ambitions of others and admit how unnecessary and unhelpful hatred in all forms really is.