Story perspectives

Study finds online hostility rises in unequal, undemocratic nations

7/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researcher Alexander Bor and colleagues published a study that found online political hostility in less democratic, more unequal countries.
The survey sampled 15,202 adults from 30 nations using quota sampling on age, gender and education.
Lower Liberal Democracy Index scores linked to more online victimhood.
Higher Gini coefficients linked to greater online hostility.
Status-driven risk-takers and young men were hostile, especially in less democratic societies, and showed higher face-to-face hostility.

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Story summary

Researcher Alexander Bor and colleagues published a study that found online political hostility in less democratic, more unequal countries.
The survey sampled 15,202 adults from 30 nations using quota sampling on age, gender and education.
Lower Liberal Democracy Index scores linked to more online victimhood.
Higher Gini coefficients linked to greater online hostility.
Status-driven risk-takers and young men were hostile, especially in less democratic societies, and showed higher face-to-face hostility.