Magdalena Obermaier
Biographic Data
| ID | 169492 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Magdalena Obermaier |
| GIVEN NAMES | Magdalena |
| FAMILY NAME | Obermaier |
| SIGNATURE | OBERMAIER M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3055-3744 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 139 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
You’ll Never Walk Alone: How Online Communication Shapes Digital Health Activism as Prosocial Collective Action
The aim of this study is to identify key determinants of the intention to engage in digital health activism. In addition to sociopsychological behavioral determinants based on the Norm Activation Model and the Social Identity Model of Collective Action, we focus on the influence of key features of online communication – anonymity and publicness. Results of a preregistered online experiment (N = 1,081) showed that both online and offline health ac…
Adolescents’ Trust in News Media: A Typology of (Un)reflected Trust and the Role of Socialization
We examine what types of news media trust can be identified among adolescents based on their trust levels and the degree of elaboration about media. Moreover, we investigate the role of socialization contexts (family, peers, and schools) in the development of adolescents’ media trust and ability to elaborate. Through qualitative interviews with 50 German adolescents aged 14 to 19, we find 5 types, with only a minority of adolescents showing highl…
Prosocial Behavior in the Context of Online Harassment of Scientists and Science Communicators: Designing and Implementing a Social Media Intervention in a Transdisciplinary Co-Creation Process
Harassment of scientists and science communicators is a growing concern, particularly on social media. While bystanders can help counter such harassment, few intervene. This research note presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of a social media intervention fostering bystander interventions, created through a transdisciplinary co-creation process with researchers, practitioners, influencers, and citizens. The resulting Instagram…
Pay it Forward? How Target Group and Social Norms Affect Online Bystander Intervention
Hate speech is pervasive on social media. Because such incidents can harm targets and foster hostile discourses, understanding what shapes bystander intervention is crucial. In two consecutive experimental studies, we examined how two key situational factors impact actual bystander intervention behavior: the reference group of the online hate speech (professional vs. minority group) and the platforms’ communication norm (prosocial supportive vs. …
Empowerment Is Key? How Perceived Political and Critical Digital Media Literacy Explain Direct and Indirect Bystander Intervention in Online Hate Speech
Hate speech is widespread in digital media, and such incidents can harm individuals and fuel hostile discourses. Therefore, understanding the factors that shape bystander intervention is crucial. Despite frequent calls for more research, there is a need for greater understanding of how perceived political and digital media literacy are related to the frequency of various forms of online bystander intervention, such as counter-speech or reporting.…
‘You Got My Back?’ Severity and Counter-Speech in Online Hate Speech Toward Minority Groups
Minority members are often targeted by online hate speech. In this article, we advance the literature by conceptualizing online hate speech as a social identity threat, whose consequences can adversely affect intergroup relations at large. Within two experiments, we examine the effects of homophobic (Study 1, N = 225) and racist (Study 2, N = 194) hate speech on target minority members’ attitudes toward the majority group and intentions to avoid …
Who cares? How personal political characteristics are related to online counteractions against hate speech
Although many Internet users have encountered hate speech online, interventions against those incidents are unlikely. To learn more about online counteractions against hate speech, which we conceptualize as a form of online civic participation, we conducted an online survey representing adult German Internet users (N = 2,691). We investigated what distinguishes users who intervene against hate speech, focusing on associations between citizens' pr…
Too civil to care? How online hate speech against different social groups affects bystander intervention
A large share of online users has already witnessed online hate speech. Because targets tend to interpret such bystanders’ lack of reaction as agreement with the hate speech, bystander intervention in online hate speech is crucial as it can help alleviate negative consequences. Despite evidence regarding online bystander intervention, however, whether bystanders evaluate online hate speech targeting different social groups as equally uncivil and,…
Reporting Trauma: Conflict Journalists’ Exposure to Potentially Traumatizing Events, Short- and Long-Term Consequences, and Coping Behavior
Due to the nature of their jobs, journalists reporting from theaters of war, destruction, and violence are frequently exposed to potentially traumatizing experience. This study explores how journalists go about trauma exposure, how they deal with its emotional fallout, and what support they get in the process. In doing so, we use 35 qualitative interviews with conflict journalists working for news media in German-speaking countries, and draw on e…
Occupational Hazards: Individual and Professional Factors of Why Journalists Become Victims of Online Hate Speech
Journalists are regularly exposed to online hate speech their profession. Because discrimination often harms targets and can prompt self-censorship in journalistic content, undermining journalism's public duty, it is essential to understand factors explaining why journalists become victims of online hate speech. Using Routine Activity Theory, an online survey of journalists in Germany (N = 497) revealed that conceptions of their roles as interpre…
Explaining media trust among journalists and recipients: Different experiences, different predictors
Media trust has been studied particularly from the audience perspective so far, while journalists’ trust has been neglected. Therefore, based on representative survey data of journalists and recipients in Germany, we investigated media trust levels of both groups, and we examined political factors driving their trust. Our findings suggest that journalists indicate higher trust levels than recipients and their levels of political trust and politic…
Trust through Transparency? How Journalistic Reactions to Media-Critical User Comments Affect Quality Perceptions and Behavior Intentions
User comments to digital news often contain media criticism, detrimentally affecting how others perceive the quality of news and possibly lowering media trust. It remains an open question, however, how journalistic reactions can mitigate these effects. Based on premises of engagement moderation, accountability, and transparency in digital journalism, we conducted an online experiment investigating how critical user comments and journalistic react…
Youth on standby? Explaining adolescent and young adult bystanders’ intervention against online hate speech
Most adolescents and young adults frequently encounter hate speech online. Although online bystander intervention is essential to combating such hate, young bystanders may need support with initiating interventions online. Thus, to illuminate the factors of young bystanders’ intervention, we conducted a nationwide, quota-based, quantitative online survey of 1180 young adults in Germany. Among the results, perceived personal responsibility for com…
Youths as targets: Factors of online hate speech victimization among adolescents and young adults
A significant number of adolescents and young adults are targeted by online hate speech. The effect of such hateful utterances can involve severe psychological harm, especially for youths who have to master developmental tasks. Therefore, drawing on criminology’s routine activity theory, this study investigates the factors that help explain why youths become victimized through online hate speech. We conducted a national quota-based quantitative o…
Concepts, causes and consequences of trust in news media – a literature review and framework
Research on trust in media is on the rise. However, communication scholars have addressed related concepts (e.g. media credibility) for decades, and these concepts have often been used interchangeably with that of trust. This practice has resulted in a confusing field of research, with studies using different labels and drawing on various theoretical backgrounds. This article aims to improve conceptual clarity. On the basis of a literature review…
I’ll be there for you? Effects of Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech on Muslim in-group bystanders’ intention to intervene
Online hate speech is very common. This is problematic as degrading social groups can traumatize targets, evoke stress, and depression. Since no reaction of others could suggest the acceptability of hate speech, bystander intervention is essential. However, it is unclear when and how minorities react to hate speech. Drawing from social identity theory and research on in-group intervention, we inquire how Islamophobic online hate speech and counte…
Independent or a political pawn? How recipients perceive influences on journalistic work compared to journalists and what explains their perceptions
Journalistic autonomy is a prerequisite for the public function of journalism. Although most journalists in Western democracies indicate particularly low political or economic influences on their work, there is evidence that recipients assume that journalism is driven primarily by political and economic interests. These perceptual discrepancies can be problematic as perceived influences on journalistic work are known to reduce recipients’ media t…
Vertrauen in journalistische Medien aus Sicht der Rezipienten: Zum Einfluss von soziopolitischen und performanzbezogenen Erklärgrößen
Journalists as targets of hate speech. How German journalists perceive the consequences for themselves and how they cope with it
Journalists around the world have increasingly become a target of hate speech in recent years. This is also true for Germany. Since journalists fulfil a public duty in democratic societies, there is reason for concern. As previous research shows, hateful verbal attacks may not only lead to negative emotions and cognitions, but also impair journalistic work. Therefore, this study is concerned with the perceived consequences of hate speech against …
Powered by public relations? Mutual perceptions of PR practitioners’ bases of power over journalism
Public relations practitioners depend on journalists to report information, and journalists count on public relations practitioners to provide information. This mutual dependence gives the two parties a degree of power over each other that can be wielded if certain resources are available. However, there are many unanswered questions about how public relations exerts power over journalists and how these influence attempts may affect news coverage…
Bystanderintervention bei Cybermobbing
If an individual witnesses an emergency, this so called bystander has to make multiple decisions in order to intervene; for instance, one has to reflect whether external help is necessary and if one is personally responsible to help. However, diverse variables can influence this in turn. For instance, a personal relationship with the victim promotes prosocial behavior, whereas the (virtual) presence of others can prevent bystanders from interveni…
Bystanding or standing by? How the number of bystanders affects the intention to intervene in cyberbullying
This study examines the bystander effect in cyberbullying. On the basis of two experiments, we test whether individuals who witness cyberbullying are less willing to intervene when the number of others who have already observed the incident is increased. In addition, we inquire how differently severe cyberbullying incidents affect bystanders’ intention to intervene. Our results show that a very severe cyberbullying incident boosts individuals’ in…
Mind the gap: Consequences of inter-role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of public relations
Freelance journalists who are also occupied in public relations have to deal with contrary expectations. Working as a journalist means contributing to the ‘public duty’ of journalism. When doing public relations work, journalists have to represent the particular interests of their clients. If journalists cannot fulfill these contradictory expectations, they experience inter-role conflicts. What are the consequences of these role conflicts? We con…
Schwieriger Spagat. Eine quantitative Befragung freier Journalisten mit Nebentätigkeiten im PR-Bereich
Nearly half of all freelance journalists in Germany have secondary employments, many of them in public relations. This double role may lead to difficulties, since journalists and PR-practitioners have to fulfill different duties. As a journalist, they contribute to a "public duty", providing independent information and criticism. PR practitioners, on the other hand, primarily represent their clients' particular interests. As a result, conflicts m…
What’s the harm in moonlighting? A qualitative survey on the role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of PR
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus on the ethical norm that journalists may not ‘moonlight’ for PR since this might conflict with their commitment to autonomy, truth, neutrality and objectivity. However, there is a gap between the normative demands on freelance journalists and the reality of their occupation: The changing world of professional working conditions is challenging journalists and has led to growing numbers of freel…
What’s the harm in moonlighting? A qualitative survey on the role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of PR
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus on the ethical norm that journalists may not ‘moonlight’ for PR since this might conflict with their commitment to autonomy, truth, neutrality and objectivity. However, there is a gap between the normative demands on freelance journalists and the reality of their occupation: The changing world of professional working conditions is challenging journalists and has led to growing numbers of freel…
Mind the gap: Consequences of inter-role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of public relations
Freelance journalists who are also occupied in public relations have to deal with contrary expectations. Working as a journalist means contributing to the ‘public duty’ of journalism. When doing public relations work, journalists have to represent the particular interests of their clients. If journalists cannot fulfill these contradictory expectations, they experience inter-role conflicts. What are the consequences of these role conflicts? We con…
Bystanding or standing by? How the number of bystanders affects the intention to intervene in cyberbullying
This study examines the bystander effect in cyberbullying. On the basis of two experiments, we test whether individuals who witness cyberbullying are less willing to intervene when the number of others who have already observed the incident is increased. In addition, we inquire how differently severe cyberbullying incidents affect bystanders’ intention to intervene. Our results show that a very severe cyberbullying incident boosts individuals’ in…
I’ll be there for you? Effects of Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech on Muslim in-group bystanders’ intention to intervene
Online hate speech is very common. This is problematic as degrading social groups can traumatize targets, evoke stress, and depression. Since no reaction of others could suggest the acceptability of hate speech, bystander intervention is essential. However, it is unclear when and how minorities react to hate speech. Drawing from social identity theory and research on in-group intervention, we inquire how Islamophobic online hate speech and counte…
Powered by public relations? Mutual perceptions of PR practitioners’ bases of power over journalism
Public relations practitioners depend on journalists to report information, and journalists count on public relations practitioners to provide information. This mutual dependence gives the two parties a degree of power over each other that can be wielded if certain resources are available. However, there are many unanswered questions about how public relations exerts power over journalists and how these influence attempts may affect news coverage…
Independent or a political pawn? How recipients perceive influences on journalistic work compared to journalists and what explains their perceptions
Journalistic autonomy is a prerequisite for the public function of journalism. Although most journalists in Western democracies indicate particularly low political or economic influences on their work, there is evidence that recipients assume that journalism is driven primarily by political and economic interests. These perceptual discrepancies can be problematic as perceived influences on journalistic work are known to reduce recipients’ media t…
Youth on standby? Explaining adolescent and young adult bystanders’ intervention against online hate speech
Most adolescents and young adults frequently encounter hate speech online. Although online bystander intervention is essential to combating such hate, young bystanders may need support with initiating interventions online. Thus, to illuminate the factors of young bystanders’ intervention, we conducted a nationwide, quota-based, quantitative online survey of 1180 young adults in Germany. Among the results, perceived personal responsibility for com…
Reporting Trauma: Conflict Journalists’ Exposure to Potentially Traumatizing Events, Short- and Long-Term Consequences, and Coping Behavior
Due to the nature of their jobs, journalists reporting from theaters of war, destruction, and violence are frequently exposed to potentially traumatizing experience. This study explores how journalists go about trauma exposure, how they deal with its emotional fallout, and what support they get in the process. In doing so, we use 35 qualitative interviews with conflict journalists working for news media in German-speaking countries, and draw on e…
Occupational Hazards: Individual and Professional Factors of Why Journalists Become Victims of Online Hate Speech
Journalists are regularly exposed to online hate speech their profession. Because discrimination often harms targets and can prompt self-censorship in journalistic content, undermining journalism's public duty, it is essential to understand factors explaining why journalists become victims of online hate speech. Using Routine Activity Theory, an online survey of journalists in Germany (N = 497) revealed that conceptions of their roles as interpre…
Vertrauen in journalistische Medien aus Sicht der Rezipienten: Zum Einfluss von soziopolitischen und performanzbezogenen Erklärgrößen
Journalists as targets of hate speech. How German journalists perceive the consequences for themselves and how they cope with it
Journalists around the world have increasingly become a target of hate speech in recent years. This is also true for Germany. Since journalists fulfil a public duty in democratic societies, there is reason for concern. As previous research shows, hateful verbal attacks may not only lead to negative emotions and cognitions, but also impair journalistic work. Therefore, this study is concerned with the perceived consequences of hate speech against …
Youths as targets: Factors of online hate speech victimization among adolescents and young adults
A significant number of adolescents and young adults are targeted by online hate speech. The effect of such hateful utterances can involve severe psychological harm, especially for youths who have to master developmental tasks. Therefore, drawing on criminology’s routine activity theory, this study investigates the factors that help explain why youths become victimized through online hate speech. We conducted a national quota-based quantitative o…
Explaining media trust among journalists and recipients: Different experiences, different predictors
Media trust has been studied particularly from the audience perspective so far, while journalists’ trust has been neglected. Therefore, based on representative survey data of journalists and recipients in Germany, we investigated media trust levels of both groups, and we examined political factors driving their trust. Our findings suggest that journalists indicate higher trust levels than recipients and their levels of political trust and politic…
Bystanderintervention bei Cybermobbing
If an individual witnesses an emergency, this so called bystander has to make multiple decisions in order to intervene; for instance, one has to reflect whether external help is necessary and if one is personally responsible to help. However, diverse variables can influence this in turn. For instance, a personal relationship with the victim promotes prosocial behavior, whereas the (virtual) presence of others can prevent bystanders from interveni…
Tanz auf zwei Hochzeiten. Rollenkonflikte freier Journalisten mit Nebentätigkeiten im PR-Bereich
Knapp 40 Prozent der freien Journalisten in Deutschland nehmen auch PR-Auftrge an. Dies birgt Konfliktpotenzial, weil sich an beide Positionen z. T. kontrre Bndel von Erwartungen (Rollen) richten. Daher knnte eine Doppelttigkeit in Journalismus und PR Inter-Rollenkonflikte evozieren. Die vorliegende Studie will herausfinden, wie die "Pendler zwischen zwei Berufswelten" die Doppelrolle wahrnehmen und wie sie mit etwaigen Inter-Rollenkonflikten umg…
Who cares? How personal political characteristics are related to online counteractions against hate speech
Although many Internet users have encountered hate speech online, interventions against those incidents are unlikely. To learn more about online counteractions against hate speech, which we conceptualize as a form of online civic participation, we conducted an online survey representing adult German Internet users (N = 2,691). We investigated what distinguishes users who intervene against hate speech, focusing on associations between citizens' pr…
Tanz auf zwei Hochzeiten. Rollenkonflikte freier Journalisten mit Nebentätigkeiten im PR-Bereich
Knapp 40 Prozent der freien Journalisten in Deutschland nehmen auch PR-Auftrge an. Dies birgt Konfliktpotenzial, weil sich an beide Positionen z. T. kontrre Bndel von Erwartungen (Rollen) richten. Daher knnte eine Doppelttigkeit in Journalismus und PR Inter-Rollenkonflikte evozieren. Die vorliegende Studie will herausfinden, wie die "Pendler zwischen zwei Berufswelten" die Doppelrolle wahrnehmen und wie sie mit etwaigen Inter-Rollenkonflikten umg…
Schwieriger Spagat. Eine quantitative Befragung freier Journalisten mit Nebentätigkeiten im PR-Bereich
Nearly half of all freelance journalists in Germany have secondary employments, many of them in public relations. This double role may lead to difficulties, since journalists and PR-practitioners have to fulfill different duties. As a journalist, they contribute to a "public duty", providing independent information and criticism. PR practitioners, on the other hand, primarily represent their clients' particular interests. As a result, conflicts m…
What’s the harm in moonlighting? A qualitative survey on the role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of PR
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus on the ethical norm that journalists may not ‘moonlight’ for PR since this might conflict with their commitment to autonomy, truth, neutrality and objectivity. However, there is a gap between the normative demands on freelance journalists and the reality of their occupation: The changing world of professional working conditions is challenging journalists and has led to growing numbers of freel…
Bystanding or standing by? How the number of bystanders affects the intention to intervene in cyberbullying
This study examines the bystander effect in cyberbullying. On the basis of two experiments, we test whether individuals who witness cyberbullying are less willing to intervene when the number of others who have already observed the incident is increased. In addition, we inquire how differently severe cyberbullying incidents affect bystanders’ intention to intervene. Our results show that a very severe cyberbullying incident boosts individuals’ in…
Mind the gap: Consequences of inter-role conflicts of freelance journalists with secondary employment in the field of public relations
Freelance journalists who are also occupied in public relations have to deal with contrary expectations. Working as a journalist means contributing to the ‘public duty’ of journalism. When doing public relations work, journalists have to represent the particular interests of their clients. If journalists cannot fulfill these contradictory expectations, they experience inter-role conflicts. What are the consequences of these role conflicts? We con…
Bystanderintervention bei Cybermobbing
If an individual witnesses an emergency, this so called bystander has to make multiple decisions in order to intervene; for instance, one has to reflect whether external help is necessary and if one is personally responsible to help. However, diverse variables can influence this in turn. For instance, a personal relationship with the victim promotes prosocial behavior, whereas the (virtual) presence of others can prevent bystanders from interveni…
Powered by public relations? Mutual perceptions of PR practitioners’ bases of power over journalism
Public relations practitioners depend on journalists to report information, and journalists count on public relations practitioners to provide information. This mutual dependence gives the two parties a degree of power over each other that can be wielded if certain resources are available. However, there are many unanswered questions about how public relations exerts power over journalists and how these influence attempts may affect news coverage…
Journalists as targets of hate speech. How German journalists perceive the consequences for themselves and how they cope with it
Journalists around the world have increasingly become a target of hate speech in recent years. This is also true for Germany. Since journalists fulfil a public duty in democratic societies, there is reason for concern. As previous research shows, hateful verbal attacks may not only lead to negative emotions and cognitions, but also impair journalistic work. Therefore, this study is concerned with the perceived consequences of hate speech against …
Vertrauen in journalistische Medien aus Sicht der Rezipienten: Zum Einfluss von soziopolitischen und performanzbezogenen Erklärgrößen
Concepts, causes and consequences of trust in news media – a literature review and framework
Research on trust in media is on the rise. However, communication scholars have addressed related concepts (e.g. media credibility) for decades, and these concepts have often been used interchangeably with that of trust. This practice has resulted in a confusing field of research, with studies using different labels and drawing on various theoretical backgrounds. This article aims to improve conceptual clarity. On the basis of a literature review…
I’ll be there for you? Effects of Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech on Muslim in-group bystanders’ intention to intervene
Online hate speech is very common. This is problematic as degrading social groups can traumatize targets, evoke stress, and depression. Since no reaction of others could suggest the acceptability of hate speech, bystander intervention is essential. However, it is unclear when and how minorities react to hate speech. Drawing from social identity theory and research on in-group intervention, we inquire how Islamophobic online hate speech and counte…
Independent or a political pawn? How recipients perceive influences on journalistic work compared to journalists and what explains their perceptions
Journalistic autonomy is a prerequisite for the public function of journalism. Although most journalists in Western democracies indicate particularly low political or economic influences on their work, there is evidence that recipients assume that journalism is driven primarily by political and economic interests. These perceptual discrepancies can be problematic as perceived influences on journalistic work are known to reduce recipients’ media t…
Trust through Transparency? How Journalistic Reactions to Media-Critical User Comments Affect Quality Perceptions and Behavior Intentions
User comments to digital news often contain media criticism, detrimentally affecting how others perceive the quality of news and possibly lowering media trust. It remains an open question, however, how journalistic reactions can mitigate these effects. Based on premises of engagement moderation, accountability, and transparency in digital journalism, we conducted an online experiment investigating how critical user comments and journalistic react…
Youth on standby? Explaining adolescent and young adult bystanders’ intervention against online hate speech
Most adolescents and young adults frequently encounter hate speech online. Although online bystander intervention is essential to combating such hate, young bystanders may need support with initiating interventions online. Thus, to illuminate the factors of young bystanders’ intervention, we conducted a nationwide, quota-based, quantitative online survey of 1180 young adults in Germany. Among the results, perceived personal responsibility for com…
Youths as targets: Factors of online hate speech victimization among adolescents and young adults
A significant number of adolescents and young adults are targeted by online hate speech. The effect of such hateful utterances can involve severe psychological harm, especially for youths who have to master developmental tasks. Therefore, drawing on criminology’s routine activity theory, this study investigates the factors that help explain why youths become victimized through online hate speech. We conducted a national quota-based quantitative o…
Too civil to care? How online hate speech against different social groups affects bystander intervention
A large share of online users has already witnessed online hate speech. Because targets tend to interpret such bystanders’ lack of reaction as agreement with the hate speech, bystander intervention in online hate speech is crucial as it can help alleviate negative consequences. Despite evidence regarding online bystander intervention, however, whether bystanders evaluate online hate speech targeting different social groups as equally uncivil and,…
Reporting Trauma: Conflict Journalists’ Exposure to Potentially Traumatizing Events, Short- and Long-Term Consequences, and Coping Behavior
Due to the nature of their jobs, journalists reporting from theaters of war, destruction, and violence are frequently exposed to potentially traumatizing experience. This study explores how journalists go about trauma exposure, how they deal with its emotional fallout, and what support they get in the process. In doing so, we use 35 qualitative interviews with conflict journalists working for news media in German-speaking countries, and draw on e…
Occupational Hazards: Individual and Professional Factors of Why Journalists Become Victims of Online Hate Speech
Journalists are regularly exposed to online hate speech their profession. Because discrimination often harms targets and can prompt self-censorship in journalistic content, undermining journalism's public duty, it is essential to understand factors explaining why journalists become victims of online hate speech. Using Routine Activity Theory, an online survey of journalists in Germany (N = 497) revealed that conceptions of their roles as interpre…
Explaining media trust among journalists and recipients: Different experiences, different predictors
Media trust has been studied particularly from the audience perspective so far, while journalists’ trust has been neglected. Therefore, based on representative survey data of journalists and recipients in Germany, we investigated media trust levels of both groups, and we examined political factors driving their trust. Our findings suggest that journalists indicate higher trust levels than recipients and their levels of political trust and politic…
‘You Got My Back?’ Severity and Counter-Speech in Online Hate Speech Toward Minority Groups
Minority members are often targeted by online hate speech. In this article, we advance the literature by conceptualizing online hate speech as a social identity threat, whose consequences can adversely affect intergroup relations at large. Within two experiments, we examine the effects of homophobic (Study 1, N = 225) and racist (Study 2, N = 194) hate speech on target minority members’ attitudes toward the majority group and intentions to avoid …
Who cares? How personal political characteristics are related to online counteractions against hate speech
Although many Internet users have encountered hate speech online, interventions against those incidents are unlikely. To learn more about online counteractions against hate speech, which we conceptualize as a form of online civic participation, we conducted an online survey representing adult German Internet users (N = 2,691). We investigated what distinguishes users who intervene against hate speech, focusing on associations between citizens' pr…
Empowerment Is Key? How Perceived Political and Critical Digital Media Literacy Explain Direct and Indirect Bystander Intervention in Online Hate Speech
Hate speech is widespread in digital media, and such incidents can harm individuals and fuel hostile discourses. Therefore, understanding the factors that shape bystander intervention is crucial. Despite frequent calls for more research, there is a need for greater understanding of how perceived political and digital media literacy are related to the frequency of various forms of online bystander intervention, such as counter-speech or reporting.…
You’ll Never Walk Alone: How Online Communication Shapes Digital Health Activism as Prosocial Collective Action
The aim of this study is to identify key determinants of the intention to engage in digital health activism. In addition to sociopsychological behavioral determinants based on the Norm Activation Model and the Social Identity Model of Collective Action, we focus on the influence of key features of online communication – anonymity and publicness. Results of a preregistered online experiment (N = 1,081) showed that both online and offline health ac…
Adolescents’ Trust in News Media: A Typology of (Un)reflected Trust and the Role of Socialization
We examine what types of news media trust can be identified among adolescents based on their trust levels and the degree of elaboration about media. Moreover, we investigate the role of socialization contexts (family, peers, and schools) in the development of adolescents’ media trust and ability to elaborate. Through qualitative interviews with 50 German adolescents aged 14 to 19, we find 5 types, with only a minority of adolescents showing highl…
Prosocial Behavior in the Context of Online Harassment of Scientists and Science Communicators: Designing and Implementing a Social Media Intervention in a Transdisciplinary Co-Creation Process
Harassment of scientists and science communicators is a growing concern, particularly on social media. While bystanders can help counter such harassment, few intervene. This research note presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of a social media intervention fostering bystander interventions, created through a transdisciplinary co-creation process with researchers, practitioners, influencers, and citizens. The resulting Instagram…
Political science (20 works) · Psychology (17 works) · Social Media and Politics (14 works) · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection (12 works) · Media Studies and Communication (10 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Computer Science (8 works) · Politics (8 works) · Public relations (8 works)