Antonetti, P. and Crisafulli, Benedetta (2021) “I will defend your right to free speech, provided I agree with you”: How social media users react (or not) to online out-group aggression. Psychology & Marketing 38 (10), pp. 1633-1650. ISSN 0742-6046.
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Abstract
Social networking sites (SNS) routinely ban aggressive users. Such bans are sometimes perceived as a limitation to the right to free speech. While research has examined SNS users’ perceptions of online aggression, little is known about how observers make trade-offs between free speech and the desire to punish aggression. By focusing on reactions to a SNS ban, this study explores under what circumstances users consider the protection of the right to free speech as more important that the suppression of aggression. We propose a model of moderated mediation that explains under what circumstances online aggression increases the acceptance of a ban. When posts display aggression, the ban is less likely to be perceived as violating free speech and as unfair. Consequently, aggression reduces the likelihood that users will protest through negative word of mouth. Moreover, users protest against a social networking site ban only when this affects an in-group user (rather than an out-group user). This in-group bias, however, diminishes when an in-group aggressor targets a high warmth out-group user. The study raises managerial implications for the effective management of aggressive interactions on SNS and for the persuasive communication of a decision to ban a user engaging in aggressive behavior.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at the link above. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. |
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | free speech, online aggression, anger, social networking site bans, unfairness, negative word of mouth |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Business and Law > Birkbeck Business School |
| Depositing User: | Benedetta Crisafulli |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jan 2021 17:03 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 18:06 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/42422 |
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