Cyber aggression is commonplace and takes many forms, such as calling each other names, excluding others and sending intimate photos and videos without permission. However, we still know little about this phenomenon. “Research has been done into bullying behaviour on Internet forums, but not much is known about newer online platforms, such as WhatsApp and similar messaging apps,” says Bleize. The first aim of her PhD research was to gain better insight into the behaviour of young people on these types of platforms.
Taking responsibility
Little is known about factors that play a role in conforming to cyber aggression, but we do know about the underlying processes. “Young people conform more quickly to aggressive behaviour if acquaintances, family members and friends also exhibit this behaviour. In addition, such behaviour can be promoted if young people feel that it has no consequences.” To discover to what extent this also applies to platforms such as WhatsApp, Bleize conducted several studies, including an experiment in which she asked subjects to think about an existing WhatsApp group and answer questions about it.
“WhatsApp groups usually consist of friends, and due to their private nature, you can get the feeling that no one outside the group can hold you accountable,” says Bleize. Nevertheless, young people did not conform more to the cyber aggression of acquaintances than to the behaviour of their peers in general. “That could be because young people at that age want to enhance their status with aggressive behaviour, but also because they are not yet able to assess the consequences of their behaviour very effectively.” Bleize also found that young people did indeed conform more to cyber aggression when they were not held accountable for it.
Victims tell their side of the story
Bleize's second aim was to investigate how cyber aggression can be mitigated. She looked into the effect of informing young people about social group norms and making them aware that a reduced sense of responsibility can contribute to cyber aggression. “Although this intervention was not effective in reducing cyber aggression, making young people more aware about media seems to be a promising approach. In addition to informing them, you can enable them to understand the consequences of this type of behaviour, for example by showing videos in which victims tell their side of the story.”
Although her PhD study provides valuable insight into cyber aggression in WhatsApp groups, Bleize hopes that follow-up research can lead to more effective interventions. “Ideally, a ready-made method could be implemented in schools.” In addition, more research into the medium itself is needed, Bleize emphasises. “Communication on WhatsApp has a more permanent character than communication during a face-to-face conversation. What influence does that have, and are technological adaptations possible to mitigate cyber aggression?
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