Motives behind Cyber Deviancy in University Students and Use of Different Social Media Platforms
Keywords:
Motives, University Students, Cyber Deviancy, Social Media Platforms.Abstract
This study aims to understand the motivations driving university students' participation in cyber deviancy, a growing problem as students engage in unethical online activities against their peers. Using a qualitative research technique, this phenomenological study purposefully selected undergraduate students known to engage in online inappropriate behavior. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to get information about their motives. According to the study of participant responds, undergraduate students at private universities commonly engage in deviant behavior often uses platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, often hiding behind fake profiles to avoid accountability. The studies identify numerous primary motivators for these acts, including a desire for dominance, retribution, entertainment, peer influence and desiring justice against previous bullies to behaving out of jealously or a desire for social approval. Understanding these reasons is critical for establishing effective measures to combat and minimize cyberbullying among university students.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Husnain Hameed Awan, Maleeha Amjad, Dr. Faisal Khan
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