Anti-South Asian hate rises across US online platforms with over 500K hate posts on X

### Anti-South Asian Hate Online Rises Sharply Across U.S. Platforms, Report Finds

Anti-South Asian hate has increased significantly across major and fringe social media platforms in the United States, with more than 500,000 hateful posts identified on X over an 18-month period, according to a new report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate.

The report, titled “The Rising Tide of Anti-South Asian Hate in the United States,” examines online hostility targeting South Asian communities, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other groups, across X, 4chan, 8chan and Gab.

Researchers identified approximately 542,360 anti-South Asian hate posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026. According to the report, the monthly volume of such content increased by 75% during the study period, with June 2026 recording about 1.75 times the number of posts identified in January 2025.

The report also found that 328,747 anti-South Asian posts were recorded on X during 2025, representing a 60% increase from the 205,585 posts identified in 2024.

Across 4chan, 8chan and Gab, researchers identified another 397,522 hateful mentions during 2025. CSOH cautioned that the figures from some fringe platforms may represent only a portion of the available material because researchers faced access restrictions on Gab and 8chan. More than 90% of the fringe-platform material examined came from 4chan.

Immigration and employment emerged as major themes in the online hostility. CSOH said posts portraying South Asians as “invaders,” job thieves or a demographic threat accounted for 45% of the anti-South Asian hate identified on X.

The H-1B visa program was also frequently referenced in the content, linking immigration debates with broader narratives about employment and competition for jobs.

The report found extensive use of racial slurs and dehumanizing language. CSOH said the slur “pajeet” and related variations appeared in approximately 30% of the X posts analyzed and 45% of the mentions examined on the fringe platforms.

Hygiene-related dehumanization was identified as the fastest-growing category on X, increasing by 171% during the study period, according to the report.

CSOH identified six factors that researchers said contributed to the increase in anti-South Asian hostility: government policy and rhetoric, xenophobic nationalism, racial hostility, the growing political visibility of South Asian communities, economic resentment and digital amplification.

The report said the hostility increasingly crosses ethnic, national and religious boundaries. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other South Asian communities were targeted, while some attacks specifically focused on Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.

Researchers also noted that online attackers sometimes make assumptions about an individual's religion, ethnicity or country of origin based on appearance or other perceived characteristics.

The report examined several instances of offline hostility that CSOH said reflected the broader concerns identified in its online research. These included the July 2026 stabbing of an Indian Muslim mall employee in Utah, which federal prosecutors charged as a hate crime, as well as a September 13 stabbing involving a Sikh truck driver in Wyoming.

CSOH also highlighted the role of social media in moving hostile narratives from online discussions into real-world interactions. Researchers said some accounts have shared personal information about South Asians in connection with allegations involving employment or H-1B visas.

In other cases, influencers have reportedly recorded confrontations with South Asians at workplaces and homes and distributed the footage online, potentially exposing the individuals involved to further harassment.

Generative artificial intelligence is adding another layer to the problem, according to the report. CSOH said AI-generated images and videos are increasingly being used to produce racist caricatures depicting South Asians as criminals, scammers, sexual predators or demographic threats.

The report argues that online and offline hostility can reinforce one another as narratives circulate between social media platforms, political discussions and everyday interactions.

At the same time, CSOH acknowledged that its research has methodological limitations, particularly on platforms where researchers had restricted access. The organization said its findings should therefore be understood within the scope of the material it was able to collect and analyze.

The report ultimately describes the growing volume of anti-South Asian content as a concern affecting diverse communities across the United States. It highlights how immigration debates, economic grievances, racial stereotypes and emerging AI-generated content can intersect online and contribute to the spread of hateful narratives.