A joint study released Jan. 10, 2025 from ÌÇÐÄvlog faculty in the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication in the School of Communication and Media and the Department of Justice Studies shows that Elon Musk dramatically increased content containing the slur \u201cretard\u201d on X after using the term in a post.<\/p>\n
Highlights from the study include:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an example of how hate content been normalized and boosted in the online space,\u201d said Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, an Associate Professor of Justice Studies at ÌÇÐÄvlog who recently served as a guest editor for a special edition of The Journal of Human Trafficking<\/em> focusing on the vulnerabilities of the disabled community.\u00a0 \u201cThe online space has always held potential dangers for marginalized communities, and it appears to be getting worse,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe power of influential voices in the online space has never been greater and it is unfortunate that too many of those voices don\u2019t consider the implications of their language,\u201d said Dr. Bond Benton, Professor of Communication at ÌÇÐÄvlog.<\/p>\n The full study, which can be found here<\/a>, was conducted by Dr. Bond Benton from the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication and by Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton from the Department of Justice Studies.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n About the School of Communication and Media:<\/b>\u00a0The School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 2,000. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA devoted to strategic communication, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include\u00a0WMSC Radio<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0The Montclarion<\/b><\/a>\u00a0newspaper,\u00a0\u00a0Hawk Communications<\/b><\/a>\u00a0Agency, the\u00a0Red Hawk Sports Network<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0Hawk+<\/b><\/a>\u00a0OTT streaming platform, and\u00a0News Lab<\/b><\/a>, as well as the\u00a0Center for Cooperative Media<\/b><\/a>, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA\u2019s Bateman Competition, an Edward R Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m a ______, tell me more\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n