Hate Speech in Armenian Media and Society: Prevalence and Consumption Patterns
Nvard Melkonyan, Yuliana G. Melkumyan, Tatevik Matinyan, Lilit Hakobyan · Sylwan · 2025
This article discusses the differences between hate speech and freedom of expression and risks of blurring the line between these phenomena. The article presents the quantitative data collected through telephone survey conducted in Armenia in November 2022. It analyses the causes and consequences of hate speech spreading and the patterns of hate speech consumption. The correlations derived from the survey data identify the social groups of Armenian society that are more likely to consume different manifestations of hate speech. However, it argues that some people consume hate speech consciously, clearly identifying it as a hate speech and naming the reasons for its consumption: lack of information, cumulated aggression and anger, need to recharge. As the effective measures to address the hate speech on media platforms institutional approach, awareness raising, appropriate sanctions and raising media literacy were identified.