Pragmatic Analysis of Hate Speech Directed at Transgender People on Selected YouTube and TikTok Channels

Abstract

Hate speech presents significant challenges to social cohesion, the protection of fundamental human rights, and democratic values, particularly in rapidly circulating digital media. While existing scholarship has examined online hate speech against various marginalised groups, comparatively limited attention has been paid to hate speech targeting transgender individuals on video-based platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. To address this gap, this study investigates 20 purposively selected video excerpts (12 from YouTube and 8 from TikTok), chosen for their relevance to discussions of transgender issues and the presence of potentially hateful discourse. The videos were transcribed and analysed using a qualitative descriptive design informed by Searle’s (1969) framework of illocutionary speech acts to examine speakers’ communicative strategies and intentions. Findings show that the videos predominantly employ assertive, expressive, and directive acts to convey negative attitudes, reinforce stereotypes, and promote discriminatory viewpoints toward transgender individuals. The analysis also identifies recurring features across both platforms, including derogatory expressions, demeaning characterisations, and exclusionary rhetoric, illustrating how hate speech is discursively constructed and normalised in user-generated content.