The Effect of Content Moderation on Online and Offline Hate: Evidence from Germany's NetzDG
75 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2022 Last revised: 24 Feb 2024
Date Written: February 23, 2024
Abstract
We study the online and offline effects of content moderation on social media using the introduction of Germany’s "Network Enforcement Act" (NetzDG), which fines social media platforms failing to remove hateful posts. We show that the law transformed social media discourse: posts became less hateful, refugee-related content less inflammatory, and the use of moderated platforms increased. The NetzDG also had offline effects by reducing anti-refugee hate crimes by 1% for every standard deviation in exposure to far-right social media use. The law reduced hate crimes partly by making it harder for perpetrators to coordinate, without changing attitudes toward refugees.
Keywords: Social Media, NetzDG, Content Moderation, Hate Crime, Refugees, Germany
JEL Classification: L82, J15, O38
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