Use of the Slur “retard” Triples on X After Elon Musk Shares the Word in a Post
Posted in: School of Communication and Media News
A joint study released Jan. 10, 2025 from Montclair State University faculty in the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication in the School of Communication and Media and the Department of Justice Studies shows that Elon Musk dramatically increased content containing the slur “retard” on X after using the term in a post.
Highlights from the study include:
- A 207.5% increase in posts containing the r-word on X after Musk’s post using the slur on Jan. 6, 2025.
- 312,642 posts using the term r-word identified in the period studied.
- Google Trends Analysis showed a similar increase in online search activity related to the r-word.
- Indication of a broader increase in stigmatizing language online with limited structures to curtail such content.
“This is an example of how hate content been normalized and boosted in the online space,” said Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, an Associate Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University who recently served as a guest editor for a special edition of The Journal of Human Trafficking focusing on the vulnerabilities of the disabled community. “The online space has always held potential dangers for marginalized communities, and it appears to be getting worse,” she added.
“The power of influential voices in the online space has never been greater and it is unfortunate that too many of those voices don’t consider the implications of their language,” said Dr. Bond Benton, Professor of Communication at Montclair State University.
The full study, which can be found here, was conducted by Dr. Bond Benton from the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication and by Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton from the Department of Justice Studies.
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