German Towns Where Facebook Use Is Higher Than Average Reliably Experience More Attacks on Refugees: Study

Towns where Facebook use was higher than average, like Altena, reliably experienced more attacks on refugees. That held true in virtually any sort of community — big city or small town; affluent or struggling; liberal haven or far-right stronghold — suggesting that the link applies universally.

Their reams of data converged on a breathtaking statistic: Wherever per-person Facebook use rose to one standard deviation above the national average, attacks on refugees increased by about 50 percent.

The researchers whose study included "3,000-plus data points" believe "this effect drove one-tenth of all anti-refugee violence" in the nation. The Times notes that this finding of a link to violence is specific to Facebook, not internet use overall.

Experts who reviewed the findings from the study "called them credible, rigorous — and disturbing."

Facebook refused to comment on the study.