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Is Online Moral Outrage Outrageous? Rethinking the Indignation Machine
Emilian Mihailov1, Cristina Voinea2, Constantin Vică1
1Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, 204 Splaiul Independentei St, Bucharest, RO-060024, Romania.
Science and Engineering Ethics
|March 31, 2023
Summary
Online moral outrage can divide people but also drive reform. The type of moral norm violated influences outrage, with harm-based violations being less antagonistic than loyalty or purity violations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Digital Ethics
- Sociology
Background:
- Moral outrage is recognized for its potential to both fragment societies and catalyze positive social change.
- Understanding the dual nature of online moral outrage is crucial in the digital age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the dichotomous effects of online moral outrage: its divisive potential and its role in promoting inclusive moral reform.
- To investigate how different types of moral norm violations elicit varying levels of antagonism in moral outrage.
- To identify key features of social media platforms that shape the expression and impact of moral outrage.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of moral outrage in the context of social media.
- Distinction between harm-based norms and loyalty/purity/identity norms regarding outrage.
- Examination of social media platform features (connectivity, omniculturalism, online exposure, group identification, expressionist experiences) influencing moral outrage.
Main Results:
- Moral outrage stemming from violations of harm-based norms exhibits less antagonism compared to outrage over loyalty and purity/identity norm violations.
- Social media features significantly alter the expression of moral outrage online.
- A disconnect can occur between online moral protest and offline impact, leading to moral disillusionment.
Conclusions:
- The impact of moral outrage is contingent on the specific moral norms being violated.
- Social media design profoundly influences the dynamics of online moral outrage.
- Strategies for redesigning social media platforms are needed to mitigate negative effects and enhance constructive collective action.
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