Tighe, Olivia Rose (2023) The combined effects of online harassment on social media users. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.
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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that online harassment has negative psychological, physiological and economic impacts on those who experience it. This study adds to existing literature by testing the combined impacts of online harassment together in concert on users across genders. This study also adds to existing literature by examining the economic impacts that online harassment has on influencers specifically while examining this effect across genders. Social media influencers and users (N=708) were solicited to participate in a self-administered survey which measured the experience of harassment behaviors along with psychological, physiological and economic impacts. Results indicate that higher levels of harassment are associated with higher combined impacts compared to the impact of any singular type of impact alone. Gender had no impact on a respondent’s likelihood of experiencing combined impacts. This study also indicates that online harassment likely has negative economic impacts for influencers whose income potential depends entirely on their engagements on social media platforms. According to terrestrial workplace harassment laws, social media corporations can be framed as liable for the harassment of the influencer population and should provide benefits to mitigate the harms experienced.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Publisher’s Statement: | © Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
| Keywords: | Influencers; Online harassment; Social media |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman |
| MeSH Subjects: | F Psychiatry and Psychology > F04 Behavioral Disciplines and Activities |
| NAU Depositing Author Academic Status: | Student |
| Department/Unit: | Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Criminology and Criminal Justice |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Oct 2025 17:53 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Oct 2025 17:53 |
| URI: | https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6221 |
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