The Dynamics of Racism, Antisemism and Xenophobia on Social Media in South Africa
In South Africa today, social media often amplifies divisive agendas and widens societal fissures. Online conversation is often driven by the white far right and the black radical left. Again and again, racist tropes surface, and discussion morphs into fear mongering. Vitriolic and sometimes violent language is normalised.
Drawing on a systematic study of online activity generated by four flashpoints in 2020 and 2021, this report explores how racist, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic content manifests on three of the most popular social-media platforms in South Africa: Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
