<b>Online hate speech, marginalized groups and minorities: discrimination in the age of social media</b>

In every society, objective realities and perceived images coexist. Yet when it comes to immigration, public opinion often gravitates toward perception rather than fact. As a result, concerns are shaped less by empirical data and more by distorted narratives, giving rise to an imagined reality. It is within this constructed space that stereotypes, prejudices, fears, and anxieties thrive—an ideal ground for those who strategically exploit these sentiments for political gain.<br>One of the most debated concepts in recent years is <b>post-truth</b>, which highlights the growing role of <b>fake news</b> and unfounded beliefs in fueling populism. Unlike in the past, these messages today benefit from an extraordinarily powerful vehicle: the internet. Misinformation and falsehoods now spread at lightning speed, reaching millions within seconds and tapping into a sentiment as old as it is modern: <b>hate</b>.<br>Hate, by its very nature, is never neutral; it demands a target, an “other” onto which it can be projected. Through this dynamic, populism both finds its meaning and feeds itself, forming a self-reinforcing loop.<br>This brief paper seeks to provide both a historical and contemporary perspective on one of the longest-standing and most deeply rooted prejudices in Europe: anti-Roma bias. We analyze how it has evolved and proliferated across digital platforms, contributing to the normalization of exclusion and discrimination.