Socially Destructive? Effects of Negative and Hateful User Comments on Readers’ Donation Behavior toward Refugees and Homeless Persons
Marc Ziegele, Christina Koehler, Mathias Weber · Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media · 2018
This study investigated the effects of negative-civil and hateful online user comments against refugees on the amount of money readers donate to a refugee aid organization or an organization that supports homeless people. The results of an online experiment reveal an indirect negative effect of hateful comments on the amount of money donated to refugees (i.e., reading hateful comments led to less money donated). However, participants donated more money to homeless people when they read hateful comments. This implies context-dependent assimilation and contrast effects of hateful statements against refugees. Negative-civil comments had no effect on participants’ donations.