Moderating effect of motivation for MIM use on the association between MIM bullying opportunities and MIM bullying behaviours. Issue 12 (2nd December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shim, Hongjin; Shin, Euikyung; Lim, Sohye
• Is Part Of: Behaviour & information technology. Volume 36:Issue 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1299
• Page End: 1307
• Publication Date: 2017-12-02
• Subjects: Mobile instant messengers (MIMs) -- MIM motivations -- MIM bullying opportunities -- MIM bullying behaviours -- cyber-bullying; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Periodicals; 303.4833
• DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2017.1384509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-929X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study responds to a call to explain recent outbreaks of cyber-bullying on mobile instant messengers (MIMs). We examined the relationships between MIM bullying opportunities and bullying behaviours in group-chat settings while also investigating the moderating effect of adolescents' motivations for MIM use. We gathered survey data from a sample of 417 South Korean students aged 13–17 years. The results indicate that adolescents' perceptions of opportunities for cyber-bullying on MIMs are positively associated with their levels of engagement in bullying behaviours in MIM use. Additionally, we found a significant moderating effect of two motivations for MIM use, entertainment and convenience. We discuss the personal and social implications of our findings that engaging in cyber-bullying is affected by user perceptions and the types of gratification offered by a given medium.