Why Do You Hate Me? goes to the US to investigage online hate & the US presidential election

Date Published: September 12, 2024 — For the second series of BBC Radio 4’s Why Do You Hate Me, Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring heads to the USA. She investigates the social media backdrop to the US presidential election, interrogating different online phenomena and cases of hate – looking at how they could potentially influence the way people vote.

Marianna travels from Colorado to Baltimore and New York, tracking down both those harmed and causing harm on social media. She investigates everything from extreme hate targeting officials and students, to online fandoms, deepfakes and corrosive conspiracy theories.

Over five episodes, Why Do You Hate Me? USA uncovers why people behave the way they do on social media during a heated presidential race. Each episode exposes the real-world consequences of what happens in this online world and its potential impact on society and democracy.

Marianna Spring, BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent says: “In this huge election year, I’ve come to realise elections don’t simply unfold online. Instead, social media plays an important role in how we live our lives and therefore vote. In other words: It’s social media’s world – and the election’s just living in it.

I think it’s important to track down and meet the real people behind the online profiles accused of spreading conspiracy theories, hate and disinformation – and those affected by that.”

Rhian Roberts, Commissioner for Podcasts and Formats says: “It’s always exciting when Marianna brings a new investigation to Radio 4. She’s been all over the US for this one as it’s important to hear from the voters themselves about why they believe what they do and where those influences have come from. Stand by for another fascinating trip down some disturbing social media rabbit holes.

‘Why Do You Hate Me? USA’ is part of Radio 4’s thorough take on the election along with ‘Americast’ and ‘The Coming Storm’. There’s comedy too with a ‘Call Jonathan Pie’ US Special on the campaign.”

The first two episodes of the series will be available on BBC Sounds on Monday 23 September. Episodes will air on BBC Radio 4 weekly at 4.30pm, and thereafter on BBC Sounds.

All of Marianna Spring’s investigative series for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds will be available in a new podcast feed on BBC Sounds called ‘Marianna in Conspiracyland.’

Episode one:

Marianna investigates the social media frenzy triggered by the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. She heads to Colorado – a state that’s become a hotbed for disinformation since the 2020 election – and meets two nature-loving women with very different political views. She examines how they got sucked into conspiracy theories through their social media echo chambers.

Episode two:

This episode delves further into the impact these conspiracy theories can have, including the way they make some people believe almost anything and everything can be staged. Some of those affected are election workers – those who are on the frontline of the democratic process in towns and cities across the US. Marianna goes inside their world as they try to defend themselves and democracy.

Episode three:

Marianna interrogates a new tool at the disposal of trolls, conspiracy theorists and bad actors this election: AI. In particular, the damage it can cause to close-knit communities. She explores how a Baltimore headteacher’s life was ruined when a deep faked clip of him making racist and antisemitic remarks about his students was made and circulated. Marianna speaks to local people who believed and spread the clip and others who have had to grapple with its fallout.

Episode four:

Marianna investigates how two students in New York have become lightning rods for hate about the war in Gaza and Hamas attacks on Israel. Both women were victims of doxxing – where their personal information was shared online in a malicious way to make a wider political point. Marianna uncovers the identities of some of their trolls and interrogates one of them, who is not perhaps, who you’d expect.

Episode five:

The final episode explores the power of the celebrity fandom. Specifically, the Taylor Swift fandom. Are they a secret weapon for politicians or do they just increase hostility and toxicity online? Marianna speaks to the ‘Swifties’ who’ve found themselves central to a new campaign to make Kamala Harris president. She looks at the similarities between political supporters and fandoms – and goes inside the world of this campaign to ask whether online abuse is an automatic biproduct of such a devoted fan base and what impact they could have on the election.