The impact of online harassment on trust: Survey evidence from Denmark and Norway

Online harassment is shown to have democratic consequences by limiting freedom of expression, disrupting public discourse, reinforcing prejudice and hostility, and creating barriers for online participation. However, there has been less attention to how online harassment relates to trust, which is a key component of well-functioning democracies. This study investigates the relationship between experiences with online harassment and different forms of social and institutional (media and governmental) trust. The analyses utilize survey panel data from Denmark and Norway, two high-trust societies. Findings indicate that online harassment, especially group-based harassment, negatively correlates with all forms of trust, with the most significant panel effects observed on governmental trust and trust in social media (Facebook), which are both institutions that regulate speech. The study contributes to the research literature by shedding light on how various types of online harassment influence different aspects of trust.