The Impacts of Social Media on Changing Mass Attitudes Towards Asian Hate in the U.S. During the COVID-19 Outbreak in the U.S.

Abstract

In this study, our primary research focus was on analyzing the changes in anti-Asian sentiment within the United States during the mid-to-late stages of the outbreak. The authors conducted a critical examination of the context surrounding the 2019 outbreak to explore its correlation with the escalation of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States. First, it is found that historical perceptions, such as the Native American concept of "yellow peril" stemming from the Opium War and the notion of "white privilege" within the mindset of white individuals, could have contributed to the emergence of the anti-Asian phenomenon. Furthermore, the discourse that unfolded on the Internet in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes in native Americans perceptions of Asian hate. Our research identified a noticeable surge in racially motivated hate crimes during the pandemic, as indicated by publicly available data. These incidents were predominantly characterized by instances of physical violence and harassment. Asian hatred has seriously disrupted the daily lives of Asian residents in the U.S. This phenomenon may have arisen from the general belief among most Americans that the pandemic originated in Asia, coupled with long-standing tendencies to view Asians as outsiders irrespective of their duration of residence in the U.S. To address these issues, our study aims to compare trends in anti-Asian sentiment before and after the epidemic by analyzing Twitter data from both periods. The authors also conducted a comparative analysis of relevant literature and books to formulate hypotheses explaining the variations in Americans' attitudes toward anti-Asian sentiments across the two timeframes. Ultimately, our goal is to advocate for the cessation of such unequal behavior and the establishment of equality for all.