#raceandtech

Race, Technology, and Online Abuse 

How does Seeking Mavis Beacon explore the intersection of race, exploitation, and technology in the context of Mavis Beacon’s story, and what does this reveal about systemic inequality in the tech industry? 

Seeking Mavis Beacon uncovers how Mavis Beacon’s image was exploited without her consent or compensation, reflecting broader systemic inequality in the tech industry. The documentary reveals that the game’s creator used her likeness to sell a widely successful product while denying her recognition or profits, highlighting the industry’s exploitative practices, especially toward women of color. As the film states, “Mavis was told it would be a photoshoot, not knowing her likeness would be used in a highly profitable game for years” (Jones, 2024). This raises questions about how marginalized groups are often erased or undervalued in spaces where they could otherwise thrive. The documentary emphasizes the ongoing racial and gender disparities within the tech world. 

How does the internet’s accessibility and reliability, as described by Elin, contribute to both positive civic engagement and the spread of radical ideologies? 

Elin highlights the internet’s positive role in fostering communication and networking, describing it as “cheap, fast, and dependable” (Elin, page 13). This accessibility makes it an essential tool for civic engagement, enabling marginalized groups and activists to organize and advocate for social change. However, the same qualities that make the internet beneficial also facilitate the spread of radical ideologies, allowing fringe groups to connect and amplify their messages. This duality underscores the internet’s power to both unite communities for positive change and serve as a breeding ground for extremism. 

How has the internet transformed white supremacist social movements from localized efforts to global networks, and what implications does this shift have for combating hate-based ideologies? 

The internet has enabled white supremacist movements to transcend national boundaries and evolve into global networks. Daniels (2025) emphasizes that “the Internet facilitates the formation of a transnational, explicitly racist white identity” (p. 43). This transformation allows disparate groups to unify under shared ideologies, amplifying their influence. The global nature of these movements complicates efforts to counter hate, as tactics effective in one region may not apply universally. Addressing this challenge requires international collaboration, online monitoring, and community resilience to combat the global spread of supremacist ideologies. 

How did Twitter’s response to Leslie Jones’s online abuse highlight the platform’s shortcomings in handling hate speech, and what does this incident reveal about the challenges of moderating harmful content on social media? 

Twitter’s response to Leslie Jones’s online abuse revealed the platform’s inadequacies in addressing hate speech. Despite acknowledging the severity of the harassment and taking action against some accounts, Twitter admitted to falling short of effectively preventing and managing such behavior. As Twitter stated, “We know many people believe we have not done enough to curb this type of behavior on Twitter. We agree” (Silman, 2016). This incident underscored the challenges of moderating harmful content, as abusive tweets continued despite enforcement efforts. Jones’s experience demonstrated the gap between policy intentions and practical enforcement, raising questions about the efficacy of social media regulations in curbing targeted harassment. 

How does Danielle Keats Citron differentiate between traditional stalking and cyber harassment, and what impact does the anonymity of the internet have on these behaviors? 

Citron (2014) explains that while traditional stalking involves offline behaviors such as vandalism or physical assault, cyber harassment “involves threats of violence, privacy invasions, reputation-harming lies, calls for strangers to physically harm victims, and technological attacks” (p. 3). The internet exacerbates the impact by extending the lifespan of abusive content, as posts can be indexed and retrieved long after they are first published, causing enduring harm. The anonymity of the internet amplifies these behaviors, as perpetrators can act without fear of identification or direct consequences, making it easier to target victims repeatedly. 

Word Count: 488 

Citron, D. K. (2014). Hate crimes in cyberspace. Harvard University Press.

Daniels, J. (2025). White Supremacist Social Movements Online and In a Global Context. In Social Movements in the Information Age (Chapter 4). 

Elin, L. (2025). The Radicalization of Zeke Spier: How the internet contributes to civic engagement and new forms of social capital. Journal of Digital Sociology. 

Jones, J. (2024). Seeking Mavis Beacon: A documentary on exploitation and racial representation in technology. [Film].

Do you live in the St. Louis area (or have connections there)? I'm working on a research project for a class on Race and Technology (formally, "Exploring Race and Community in the Digital World") examining social media and Ferguson among St. Louis-area residents.