You ever feel like the internet is just one giant middle school cafeteria fight… and nobody’s watching or trying to break it up? In reading the article “Racism, Hate Speech, and Social Media- A Systematic Review and Critique” by Ariadna Matamoros-Fernandez and Johan Farkas, I learned a LOT about how hate speech and racism spread online. These researchers reviewed over 100 other studies on this topic and what really struck me is how we’re often blaming individuals for ugly comments, while ignoring the giant megaphones that companies like Facebook, X (Twitter), and even TikTok hand them.

We Can’t Fix What We Won’t Name

Here’s the deal: the researchers found that most studies talk about hate speech like it’s random trolls saying mean things in a dark corner of the internet. But very few stop to ask the bigger question: how does the entire system, from platform algorithms to community moderation rules, actually enable racism to thrive?

It’s like blaming the kid who threw the food in the cafeteria without asking why the adults left the ketchup bottles unlocked and unsupervised in the first place.

Who’s Missing from the Conversation?

Most of these studies come from the U.S. and Europe, and they mostly study Western platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Which means we’re ignoring places like WhatsApp in India, WeChat in China, or even TikTok communities around the world where a lot of this hate also spreads—but differently.

Basically, it’s like having a parent-teacher conference and forgetting to invite half the class. You’re never going to fix the problem if you’re only listening to part of the room.

So, What Do We Do?

As a mom, I always tell my kids: when you mess up, you have to own it and work to make it right. Social media companies, researchers, and yes, those of us who post, comment, and share need to do the same. That means:

Platforms should stop pretending they’re neutral. Their algorithms boost what gets attention—and sometimes that’s hate.

Researchers need to widen their lens. Racism isn’t just something “bad people” do. It’s built into systems—including tech platforms.

We all have to speak up. Whether that’s reporting a hateful post, educating ourselves, or modeling better conversations for our kids.

Wrapping It Up

Look, I’m no expert on hate speech moderation. But I AM an expert on noticing when grown adults are acting like middle schoolers. And the internet has a serious maturity problem. Matamoros-Fernández and Farkas remind us that fighting racism online isn’t just about blocking bad words. It’s about building better system and holding the people in charge accountable. And in the meantime? Let’s teach our kids (and maybe ourselves) to use our voices for something better than tearing each other down. 

Resources on Talking to Kids About Racism & Hate Speech

Common Sense Media: “How to Talk to Kids About Hate Speech Online”
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-hate-speech-online
Tips for age-appropriate conversations and teaching empathy in the digital world.

The Conscious Kid: Parenting & Education Resources
https://www.theconsciouskid.org/
Books, articles, and practical tools for raising anti-racist kids.

EmbraceRace: Talking Race With Kids
https://www.embracerace.org/
Guides, webinars, and community discussions for raising inclusive, thoughtful children

 Where to Report Hate Speech

Platform Reporting Tools: Every social media app (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) has a “Report” feature for hate speech and abuse. Don’t be afraid to use it.

ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Hate on Display™ Hate Symbols Database:
https://www.adl.org/hate-symbols
A helpful tool to recognize signs and symbols of hate that kids may encounter online.

Source:

Matamoros-Fernández, A., & Farkas, J. (2021). Racism, hate speech, and social media: A systematic review and critique. Television & New Media, 22(2), 209–224.