Increasing Political Hostility in Morocco's Social Media Landscape
A recent study published in the scientific journal "Nature" has shed light on concerning trends regarding aggressive behaviors exhibited on social media platforms. This comprehensive research, which encompassed over 15,000 participants from 30 countries worldwide, identified Morocco as a significant case study beyond the traditional Western context.
According to the findings presented in the study titled “Social Media Users Face Greater Political Hostility in Economically Inequal and Less Democratic Societies,” there exists a strong correlation between the overall climate of nations and the level of online tension. The results indicate that social media users in societies marked by greater economic disparities and lower levels of democratic engagement are more susceptible to experiencing what is termed "political hostility" and cyberbullying.
In particular, the research suggests that users in Morocco report relatively high levels of exposure to political hostility when compared to their counterparts in Northern European countries or those with well-established democracies and high economic equality. Morocco is classified among nations where users face significant "digital aggression," a direct consequence of an environment characterized by economic disparities.
One of the critical aspects highlighted by the study, applicable to participants across different countries, including Morocco, is the examination of the "psychological profile" of hostile users. Researchers found that individuals exhibiting aggressive and confrontational behavior online tend to display similar traits in their daily lives. A common thread among these individuals is their high scores in what is known as "status-seeking motivations." In societies suffering from economic inequality, there is an increase in the number of individuals, particularly among young males, who strive to affirm their identities and achieve social status by engaging in fierce political attacks or adopting extremist rhetoric to attract attention.
Overall, the study concludes that individuals in less democratic and economically unequal countries are subjected to greater levels of electronic hostility. These findings underline how online political animosity intertwines with broader societal tensions.
As reported by hespress.com.
