US President Donald Trump has often mocked the Chinese by calling COVID-19 virus the “Chinese virus“. However, the recent data shows he is not alone in doing so.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led masses online to constantly abuse the country and its citizens and even spitting racial slurs.
According to L1ght, there has been a 900% growth in hate speech towards China and Chinese people on Twitter.
The report says that there is certain tension related to the disease, and as people spend more time in quarantine, more time reading about it, the more they come out with abusive language towards people of Asian descent accusing them of causing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report says,
“People are spending more and more time online, and so are being exposed to more and more hate speech and incitement. Instigators of hate are likely using the general feeling of uncertainty and tension to stir up discriminatory behavior, and, according to our data, racist abuse is being targeted most explicitly against Asians, including Asian Americans. Toxic tweets are using explicit language to accuse Asians of carrying the coronavirus and blaming people of Asian origin as a collective for spreading the virus.”
Also, many users are posting discriminatory hashtags such as #chinaliedpeopledied, #Chinavirus, and #Kungflu to tweet about the disease.
L1ght also highlighted the fact that websites that target Asians have gained a 200% increase in traffic in recent times.
The phenomenon is not confined to the Twitterverse. According to the reports from local authorities, the UK had registered several cases of hate crimes and San Fransisco had more than 1,000 cases of xenophobia. In Melbourne, reportedly parents stopped Asian doctors to treat their children.
The time is to unite and pool resources to fight against an enemy that does not discriminate. It’s saddening to see racism flourish. Online platforms should take strict actions against unfound prejudice.
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