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For the second series of BBC Radio 4’s Why Do You Hate Me, disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring heads to the USA. She investigates the social media backdrop to the presidential election, interrogating different online phenomena and cases of hate – looking at how they could potentially influence the way people vote.

Marianna travels from Colorado to Baltimore and New York, tracking down both those harmed and causing harm on social media. She investigates everything from extreme hate targeting officials and students, to online fandoms, deepfakes and corrosive conspiracy theories.

Over five episodes, she uncovers why people behave the way they do on social media during a heated presidential race. Each episode exposes the real-world consequences of what happens in this online world and its potential impact on society and democracy.

This is the new home of Marianna Spring's social media and disinformation investigations for BBC Radio 4. Listen back to Death by Conspiracy, War on Truth, Disaster Trolls, Conspiracyland and Why Do You Hate Me? Plus, hear the new series, Why Do You Hate Me? USA, coming soon.

Marianna investigates online abuse targeting Eni Aluko and tracks down one of her trolls.

In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna Spring delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, to see if understanding – even forgiveness is possible.

In this episode, she speaks to former footballer Eni Aluko and investigates the wave of online abuse directed at her. Marianna tracks down one of the people behind the abusive messages to understand why they do it.

If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Host: Marianna Spring

The Premier League has told the BBC it’s fighting a rise in social media threats against both its players and their families, with a team dedicated to hunting down online trolls. The BBC’s Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring goes inside the team for the first time, talks to striker Neal Maupay about social media abuse - and tracks down the man they helped convict for threatening him.

In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding – even forgiveness – is ever possible.

Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first. And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.

If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Host: Marianna Spring

Last November, a faked audio clip of London's mayor went viral. Marianna Spring talks to Sadiq Khan about the impact it had and tracks down it's suspected creator.

The clip used artificial intelligence to create a replica of Mr Khan's voice saying words scripted by the faker, disparaging Remembrance weekend with an expletive and calling for pro-Palestinian marches to take precedence.

In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna Spring delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding – even forgiveness – is ever possible.

Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first. And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.

If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Host: Marianna Spring

The online world can be a breeding ground for hate. But why do some people behave the way they do on social media?

In each episode, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring - one of the most trolled BBC journalists - dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out.

She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible.

You can listen to the first two episodes now on BBC Sounds and by listening to this trail you’ll get a sneak preview as to what’s coming up in the rest of the series.

You can watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.

If you have been affected by online abuse, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline

Host: Marianna Spring

Marianna Spring talks to a survivor of the mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 about how posts on a social media account made him question an event he’d witnessed with his own eyes

Listen to more episodes of Why Do You Hate Me on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. For this series, Marianna Spring (one of the most trolled BBC journalists) dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out. She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible. Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first.

And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.

If you have been affected by online abuse, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline

Host: Marianna Spring

Cellphone footage courtesy of Lindsay Sherk

When Julia Wandelt posted on social media that she believed she was Madeleine McCann, she became a lightning rod for online anger. In the first of a new series exploring extraordinary cases of online hate and the possibility of forgiveness, Marianna Spring, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent, speaks to Julia about her motives and regrets.

Listen to more episodes of Why Do You Hate Me on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. For this series, Marianna Spring (one of the most trolled BBC journalists) dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out. She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible. Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first.

And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.

If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Host: Marianna Spring

Archive credits: Peteski Productions distributed through CBS Media Ventures.

The online world can be a breeding ground for hate. But why do some people behave the way they do on social media?

In each episode, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring - one of the most trolled BBC journalists - dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out.

She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible.

Producers: Emma Close and Ben Carter

Marianna travels to Dublin to investigate a court case unfolding against the Irish Light conspiracy theory newspaper. Edel Campbell and her lawyer have been targeted by an extreme campaign of abuse after suing The Light which falsely claimed Edel’s son Diego died from a Covid vaccine, when in reality he had died by suicide. Conspiracy theorists worldwide have used dozens of tragic deaths to spread vaccine misinformation. This case is thought to be the first where a relative has sued. And what is the cost of taking action like this?