A social identity perspective on conformity to cyber aggression among early adolescents on WhatsApp
Keywords
conformity
cyber aggression
early adolescents
social identification
social identity perspective
WhatsApp
Publication details
| Year: | 2021 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/sode.12511 |
| Issued: | 2021 |
| Language: | English |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Bleize D.; Tanis M.; Anschütz D.; Buijzen M. |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | Social Development |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| Topics: | Social mediation; Risks and harms; Wellbeing |
| Sample: | The final sample consisted of 647 participants: 51.5% boys and 48.5% girls between 10 and 16 years old (M = 12.87 years, SD = 1.04). |
| Implications For Policy Makers About: | Other |
| Other PolicyMaker Implication: | Alter feelings of social identification in order to mitigate social identification-induced conformity tendencies |
Abstract
Cyber aggressive behaviors such as nonconsensual image sharing, nasty comments, and social exclusion frequently take place on WhatsApp. These behaviors often involve group processes, where adolescents conform to peers’ behaviors. WhatsApp is pre-eminently suited for group-communication among adolescents, and, thus, may facilitate conformity to such behaviors. However, research on conformity on WhatsApp is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine if and how the social identity perspective on group behavior may explain cyber aggression on WhatsApp. Specifically, we examined how social identification relates to conformity to cyber aggression on WhatsApp. In a preregistered survey, 647 early adolescents answered questions about social identification with group members and conformity to behavior of a WhatsApp group. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderated mediation analyses point toward an indirect, positive relation between the centrality component of social identification and conformity to cyber aggression, mediated by perceived social pressure to conform. These findings contribute to the literature by extending the social identity perspective to conformity on WhatsApp. Further exploration of this research line within the field of cyber aggression is warranted, because this can help improve applied interventions to reduce conformity to cyber aggression.
Outcome
Social identification with WhatsApp group members was positively associated with general group conformity on WhatsApp.
No convincing support has been found for the second hypothesis that social identification with WhatsApp group members would be associated positively with conformity to cyber aggression.
There was an indirect relation between centrality and conformity to cyber aggression, fully mediated by perceived social pressure.
No support was foundfor the fourth hypothesis that susceptibility to peers moderated the magnitude of the indirect effects.