Filenews 15 January 2022 - by Nicoletta Kouroushi
Social media offers an open field of dialogue through which one can express various opinions and beliefs. It is troubling, however, that not many social media users choose to express themselves often in a highly offensive and sometimes insulting way, a phenomenon that is increasingly observed under news posts.
Asked to comment on the issue, psychiatrist Dr George Mikellidis said that it is a global phenomenon and a multidimensional topic, noting that the trends of negative commentary are increasing, which is due to various reasons. He pointed out that for a section of the population social media is a means of defusing and expressing their discomfort, while adding that some feel that it is perhaps the only way they can be heard.
He noted that the various restrictive and often contradictory measures, taken during the pandemic, have exacerbated the situation, since when a person is oppressed, this has a huge impact on his psychology. Therefore, as he noted, the discomfort, distrust and indignation of the world is often externalized in an un constructive way and without proper rationalistic criticism. He also explained that the current situation has already exacerbated existing psychological problems faced by some persons, who are looking for the reason to defuse themselves, through social media.
He also argued that a person's way of behaving on social media is not necessarily consistent with their way they behave in person offline, noting that some people feel anonymously that they are drawing strength and that they are not going to have consequences, while other persons may consider virtual reality to be something different from real life.
Regarding in particular the insulting comments under news posts, Dr Mikellidis commented that these are mainly triggered by rumours that the media are being manipulated by the rich elite and people who experience difficulties oppose them, considering that they often do not present reality in an objective way.
Dr. Christiana Karagianni, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Cyprus and Lecturer in Media & Cultural Studies at Frederick University, also spoke to us about the topic, who, in response to a series of questions, analyzed dimensions of the issue from a different scientific perspective.
-It has been observed that more and more internet users are expressing themselves in a highly reactionary and sometimes insulting way on social media. What is the reason for this?
- First of all, let us make it clear that the highly reactive is not always negative. Now whether someone expresses himself with abusive comments, either on the internet or outside him, is something that has to do with his character, ethos and generally his ways, that is, with the person and not with the medium.
What may be observed more strongly on the internet, however, is the great ease with which one expresses such behaviour in this context, compared to how one would express it if one were in a physical space and time with the person who disagrees.
-How can we explain in particular the increase in abusive comments under news posts?
Although I am not aware of the findings of relevant research on the subject in order to answer with certainty what this is due to, I could assume that such an increase may be a sign of the lack of trust that a large proportion of citizens have in the media. A lack of trust, which stems from the perception that their functionaries shape the news, in a way that serves the interests of those in power, despite the purpose of informing the public.
-Could we say that social media is being used as a means of defusing everyday problems for some users?
At a time when the lockdown and the restrictive measures of the pandemic determine the lives of citizens, perhaps in a way in which they disagree, then it is not excluded that social media is a place to defuse feelings of anger and indignation. The increase in the use of NPLs, more generally in times of crisis, has already been documented in previous surveys (e.g. Plios, 2013).
-Do you believe that the continuous restrictive measures due to the pandemic and the burdened psychology of the people have contributed to the increase of the phenomenon?
- I believe that the conditions of the pandemic in general and not only the restrictive measures contribute to the creation of a burdened psychological situation in all of us. What we are experiencing is unprecedented, both in terms of the physical consequences of the pandemic (e.g. loss of loved ones, concern for sick people in our circle, loss of work or cancellation of our plans), as well as the effect of the restrictive measures imposed on us. The combination of the two creates negative feelings of sadness, fear, anger, hopelessness, etc., which if we are not able to manage will lead to outbursts of reactions and behaviour and NDICIs are often for many different reasons an easy place or means to channel such reactions.
- Do you think that the way someone behaves on social media is identified with the way someone behaves in general in his life? Does anonymity on social media affect user behaviour?
-Being behind a computer or a mobile phone and expressing an aggressive behaviour, simply by typing it, often anonymously, is quite different from that when someone does it in person, since if nothing else this context offers him a sense of security, freedom and distancing from the emotional load that usually carries such behaviour.
- When does an insulting comment consist of hate speech and how do you think such phenomena can be prevented?
Hate speech is usually defined as speech that expresses hatred, encourages or incites violence towards groups or individuals based on their sexuality, origin, gender or other characteristics of their identity. There are state laws, resolutions and regulations of the European Parliament on hate speech that also concern our action on the Internet, so whenever a comment, whether it is on the internet or elsewhere, and contains elements, so that it falls under the category of hate speech, then the competent authorities should act accordingly, so that individuals or groups are protected and such phenomena are prevented.
