The multilayered crisis that Lebanon has been enduring since 2019 has, among other manifestations, translated into a rapid proliferation of harsh hate speech across social, digital and mainstream Lebanese media, which no longer inspire confidence in a large majority of their audience.
According to the findings of a study conducted by the Samir Kassir Foundation, most media distort the news to serve their own editorial line, in an alarming rise of hate speech at a time when Lebanon is plagued by political and economic crises.
Entitled “Perception and use of hate speech in the Lebanese media,” the study’s results were made public on Tuesday, with a main objective to “limit the spread of hate speech” by evaluating the most effective methods for promoting critical thinking. It also aims to “foster the production of professional and ethical information that improves media usage patterns.”
The study, conducted and written by journalist Nidal Ayoub, included focus groups with selected members, in collaboration with Information International (Al-dawliya lil Maaloumat), a Beirut-based research and statistics company. The sample included men and women from all communities and age groups. They came from Beirut (Tariq el-Jdideh, Ain el-Remmaneh and Chiyah), the Chouf, Metn, Bekaa and Akkar.
The interviewees were highly critical of the traditional media, mainly television, which they felt “has political bias” and “lacks credibility.” Many were specifically skeptical of TV news bulletins and talk shows. They felt that these programs are “the mouthpieces of political parties.”
Depending on their political leanings, the people included in the study said they watched LBCI, MTV, Al Jadeed or al-Manar, while remaining critical of the “biases” of these channels.
“Some people, although opposed to Hezbollah, insist on watching al-Manar because they are convinced that a large majority of decisions in the country are taken by this party and that Hezbollah can impose its diktat better than any other party,” reads the report.
Those interviewed stressed that talk shows do not captivate them, but that they follow them because the guest on the program adds value.
Also according to the report, all the people included in the study stated that given the doubts they have about the accuracy of the information presented in TV news bulletins, they gather information from a variety of sources, including the Internet. In addition, they compare information from different channels to gain multiple perspectives, enabling them to draw their own personal conclusions in search of the truth.
For the interviewees, social media networks remain the main source of information, mainly because they are easily accessible through various applications available on cell phones. They consider the information relayed by various WhatsApp groups or published on local news pages on Facebook to be “reliable.”
The participants, regardless of age, religious affiliation or partisan leanings, can easily identify hate messages, with some rejecting them outright, while others perceive them as “legitimate expressions of fear” or concern towards “others.”
The report noted that a common characteristic among the participants is a reluctance to confront or take action against hate speech. Many justify this inaction through their belief that their intervention would not make a difference or could even lead to backlash against them.
They cite the deeply entrenched political, partisan and sectarian divisions within Lebanese society, as well as the organized structures dedicated to “destroy opponents” by propagating hate messages and launching hate campaigns, as significant barriers to effective intervention.
To address hate speech, the study recommends raising awareness among citizens, journalists and media administrators by highlighting the tragic consequences of such speech, promoting fact-based reporting, fostering critical thinking skills and creating platforms for countering information manipulation.
