Poster #113 - Social Media and the Visibility of Hate Crime: Evidence from U.S. Counties

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Hate crimes remain critically under-reported across the United States. While existing literature extensively examines the determinants of hate crime incidence, the factors predicting reporting behaviour remain comparatively understudied. This study examines the relationship between social media penetration and hate crime reporting rates across U.S. counties and how digital tools like social media and broadband internet help victims overcome barriers to seeking justice. We used longitudinal panel model to analyze data from 2016 to 2025 across U.S. counties, allowing us to see how reporting changed over time as technology advanced.
We argue that counties with higher levels of social media penetration tend to report greater hate crime rates, even after accounting for structural and demographic variables. The results reflect both the amplifying role of online platforms in spreading extremist rhetoric and the increased visibility and reporting of hate incidents in digitally connected communities. Regional heterogeneity tests further indicate that the association is strongest in metropolitan counties and politically polarized regions. By connecting our findings to the Emmett Till Antilynching Act of 2022, we show how digital inclusion can empower victims to come forward. Findings would carry significant implications for both digital inclusion policy and hate crime enforcement strategy across the United States.

Authors

• Neelam Shukla, George Mason University

• Aliya Lnu, Winston Churchill High School