HATE SPEECH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: EXAMINING THE LEVEL OF RELIGIOSITY AND TENDENCY TO SHARE THE SECTARIAN CONTENT

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between exposure to sectarian and hate speech content on social media and the tendency to share sectarian content, while exploring the mediating role of religiosity among youth. The research employed a quantitative design using a structured questionnaire distributed to 250 university students selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS, applying multiple regression and mediation analysis. Results revealed that both exposure to sectarian and hate speech content significantly and positively influence the tendency to share sectarian material. Moreover, religiosity demonstrated a significant direct effect on sharing behavior and partially mediated the relationship between exposure to hate speech and the tendency to share sectarian content. These findings suggest that online religiosity reinforces the moral justification of sectarian sharing, transforming exposure into behavioral imitation through learned reinforcement. The study contributes to understanding how digital platforms foster sectarian discourse and highlights religiosity's role as a psychological mechanism that shapes online behavior. Practical implications recommend implementing digital literacy and interfaith harmony programs in universities to counter divisive content.