In the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, college campuses have been experiencing heightened tension with increased antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Students at various universities, including Columbia University, have been protesting for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. Amidst these protests, a social media app called Sidechat has emerged as a central platform for discussions, but also as a breeding ground for hate speech.
As demonstrations spread to multiple campuses, students turned to Sidechat to share memes and express their dissatisfaction with how university administrations were handling the situation. Following a weekend of arrests at Columbia, students reported seeing calls for solidarity on the app. Thousands of staff, students, and community members signed a letter supporting campus safety and academic freedom, accompanied by screenshots from Sidechat showing discussions related to the protests and Zionism.
The New York Police Department arrested hundreds of protesters at Columbia and City College of New York, further escalating the situation. Prior to the protests, administrators at other universities had already expressed concerns about the toxic and hateful rhetoric on Sidechat, leading them to push for increased moderation on the platform.
Initially launched in 2022 as a platform for college students to anonymously discuss campus events, Sidechat quickly gained popularity across US universities. However, as the app became a hub for more heated discussions, university administrators urged Sidechat to strengthen its content moderation policies in response to reports of harassment and hate speech.
While the app’s user guidelines prohibit content that promotes discrimination or hatred, Sidechat, and its predecessor Yik Yak, have faced criticism for facilitating an environment conducive to hate speech. The acquisition of Yik Yak by Sidechat in 2023 raised concerns, as Yik Yak had previously been shut down for four years due to complaints of racism, discrimination, and threats of violence circulating on the app. Hate speech on Sidechat following the October 7 attack suggests that similar issues persist on the platform.
