In Germany, online hate speech has real world consequences
&gt; New research suggests that this digital hatred is now spilling over into the real world.<p>I don&#x27;t agree there is a distinction to be made here. The <i>real world</i> subsumes social media. Certainly <i>violent crimes such as arson and assault</i> are different, and more severe, than hateful or abusive posts or direct messages. Neither category is less <i>real</i>.