The Role of Self-Control and Online and Offline Peers in Youth Sharing of Hateful Content

• In Event: Cyberdeviance & Online Delinquency

Abstract

Research has found a relationship between low self-control, opportunity, association with deviant peers, and whether youth share hateful content online, with some work suggesting association with deviant peers mediates the relationship between low self-control and youth cyberdeviance. However, it is unclear how strong the direct and indirect effects of low self-control on cyberdeviance are relative to one another. It is also unclear whether online association with deviant peers plays a similar role to offline association in explaining youth cyberdeviance. This study uses quantitative methods to explore how self-control, opportunity, and both offline and online exposure to deviant peers impact youth engagement in sharing hateful content online. The results provide additional insight into the relationship between these important drivers of cyberdeviance.

Author

• Sydney Litterer, Michigan State University