A Study on Role of Social Media Addiction in Contribution to Cyberbullying and Hate Speech among Young Adults

Abstract

Technology is a huge asset to human development and it has advanced significantly in recent years. One of the gifts of technology is social media which is a huge platform that allows people of all ages, but notably young people, to widen their social networks, share ideas and be creative. It is very famous among youngsters and is mostly used by them as they are more exposed to it than any other generation has ever been. Social media holds the power to change the world and make a huge difference as it is a place where people can share their opinions freely without hesitation. However, social media also has disadvantages that may be harmful to us. It may result in hate speech, addiction to social media, and cyberbullying, all of which are detrimental to our mental health. The purpose was to study role of social media addiction in contribution to cyberbullying and hate speech among young adults. To measure the stated variables, standardized scales were used, and data was collected from a total sample of 60 people in the 18-25 age group. The results found out that, there is a considerable positive correlation between cyberbullying and hate speech. There are few measures that can be taken to deal with hate speech and cyberbullying, that is, to encourage worldwide cooperation to combat cyberbullying, maintain strong platform policies against hate speech, and promote digital literacy and appropriate online conduct. Promote community involvement and goal support while keeping platforms responsible for upholding a secure online environment.