Associations Between Searching and Sending Cyberhate: The Moderating Role of the Need of Online Popularity and Toxic Online Disinhibition

Cyberhate, also known as hate speech, has emerged as a significant global concern. Existing research suggests that adolescents are primarily involved in cyberhate as bystanders, mainly unintentionally. However, there is growing evidence that some adolescents intentionally search for such content. Some indications suggest that actively searching for cyberhate may align more closely with sending it than mere exposure, hinting at a potentially risky behavior. Yet, the association between cyberhate searching and sending and the factors that may influence this relation has not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, the present study investigated (1) whether cyberhate searching is associated with sending and (2) whether the need for online popularity and toxic online disinhibition moderate this relation. The sample comprises 2,539 students (49.1 percent boys, 49.2 percent girls, and 1.7 percent others) aged 11-18 years (