The Influence of Triggering Posts and Hate Speech on the Attitudes, Justifications, and Motivations of Cyberbullying Perpetrators on Social Media

Abstract

Social media has become the primary platform for sharing information and personal experiences, but some sensitive or provocative posts, known as triggering posts can provoke negative emotions such as anger, sadness, or anxiety. Such content has the potential to trigger cyberbullying because it influences perpertrators’ moral perceptions and their justifications for aggressive online behavior. This study aims to assess perpetrators’ attitudes toward cyberbullying and to identify the justifications and motivations that drive their actions. The study’s objectives include evaluating levels of acceptance, moral perception, and the tendency of perpetrators to view bullying as justified, as well as understanding the reasons they use to rationalize their behavior. The study used a quantitative approach with a structured questionnaire involving 193 social media users. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially to assess attitude patterns and the relationship between exposure to triggering posts and the tendency to engage in cyberbullying. The findings show that perpetrators often justify aggressive behavior as a response to provocative content and consider their actions acceptable. These findings suggest the need for specific legislation addressing triggering posts and support for the government to introduce mandatory social media account registration for all Malaysian citizens.