Online attacks on Kenyan journalists: what makes audiences join in, push back or stay silent
Online harassment of journalists, particularly in Kenya, has become a global crisis that threatens press freedom and individual safety. A study by media researchers examines how audiences respond to these attacks on social media, either by joining in, pushing back, or remaining silent, thereby influencing their impact.
Why it matters
This issue erodes public trust in news institutions, pressures journalists into self-censorship, and underscores the critical role of audience behavior in shaping the digital information environment and democratic discourse.
Women watching online attacks may understand political reporting as a source of personal danger. Surface/Unsplash Online attacks on Kenyan journalists: what makes audiences join in, push back or stay silent Published: September 27, 2026 3:42am EDT https://theconversation.com/online-attacks-on-kenyan-journalists-what-makes-audiences-join-in-push-back-or-stay-silent-291471 https://theconversation.com/online-attacks-on-kenyan-journalists-what-makes-audiences-join-in-push-back-or-stay-silent-291471 Link copied Share article Share article
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Online harassment targeting journalists has escalated into a global crisis. Across digital public spheres, it threatens press freedom and individual safety .
In Kenya, this hostility often unfolds on social media platforms like X and Facebook, where journalists covering politically sensitive events face coordinated attacks. For instance, following critical coverage of state policies or public protests, journalists are regularly branded as “political mercenaries” or “traitors” in comment threads, prompting audiences to swarm their personal accounts with threats.
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