Has political rhetoric become too harsh and harmful? Here is what research says

Harassment and threats have become a regular part of political work in Norway, according to research discussed after social media comments targeting AUF leader Gaute Skjervø renewed debate about the tone of political discourse.

Studies from the Norwegian Politician Panel indicate that many elected officials encounter unpleasant or threatening statements, especially on social media. Recent surveys from the Norwegian Police University College and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities suggest the problem may have reached a plateau rather than continuing to grow. Online abuse nevertheless remains a substantial and established feature of political life.

Not all politicians face the same level of exposure. Visibility matters, with members of parliament and government politicians reporting more abuse than other elected officials. Among local politicians, those in large cities are somewhat more exposed than politicians in rural and sparsely populated areas. Local politicians under 35 face markedly more exposure than those over 67.

Norwegian studies do not show major differences between men and women in the level of exposure. Gender still affects the consequences. Women politicians are more likely than men to say that harassment has made them consider quitting or avoiding particular subjects and situations.

Research also points to a gap between those who send abuse and those who receive it. A person may feel less inhibited writing something insulting in a Facebook comment than saying it face to face, while the recipient can experience the effect as much the same. International research suggests that a relatively small share of users produces most hateful content. These users are often men, feel betrayed by the system and have very low trust in politicians.

Attempts to prohibit political harassment face another difficulty: people do not always agree on where legitimate criticism ends and unwanted abuse begins. A Danish study that asked participants to assess potentially abusive examples found broad agreement on some cases, while other judgments differed.