Future directions for online incivility research

Abstract

This chapter makes a normative argument that incivility scholars should shift directions in exploring aversive online communication. Specifically, it is vital for scholars to consider various subsets of incivility (e.g., profanity or hate speech), rather than treat incivility as a monolith and to acknowledge that different types are not equally damaging to democracy or interpersonal relations. Furthermore, this chapter calls for more attention to how incivility of all types hurts those from marginalized groups and how and why those with less societal power are more frequent targets of toxicity, as well as how to protect them. It also proposes that the role of online platforms, like Facebook, WeChat, and WhatsApp, be integorrated more fully in regard to incivility and that incivility be studied in concert with other types of problematic speech, such as misinformation and disinformation.