Where do I go now? Migrants' anxiety, worry and disappointment at online racism in Chile
Description
In the context of increasing human mobility and humanitarian crises in the region, new technologies are playing a relevant role in the governance of migration, with socio-emotional impacts that are decisive for integration. The question is: What are the characteristics and subjective effects of online hate speech towards migration in Chile? This paper used a mixed approach, which includes the application of 1020 questionnaires and 22 interviews with migrants in Chile during 2023. The results indicate that although Facebook and Instagram are the platforms with the highest exposure to hate speech towards migration, hostile messages emerge in the comments of negative news about migration in the media. It is also found that these expressions emphasize people's physical features and nationalities, thus constituting forms of racism, with Venezuelans (59%), Peruvians (62%) and Colombians (63%) being the most affected groups. The emotions most frequently experienced by migrants are anxiety, worry, and disappointment.