Influence of motivations for social media use on cyberbullying behaviours among undergraduates in Malaysian public universities

Abstract

In modern times, social media platforms have become veritable tools of communication and interaction amongst young adults in the university environment as well as the larger society. However, the platform has continued to cause serious psychological and emotional trauma to users through cyberbullying activities. This study examined the influence of motivations for social media use on cyberbullying behaviours (CBB) among undergraduates in Malaysian public universities. It was a quantitative type and it adopted survey design. A total sample of 400 undergraduates were purposively selected from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Self-designed questionnaire entitled Motivation for social media use and CBB was used for data collection. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares 3. The findings revealed that undergraduates were more socially motivated for social media activities than for academic motives; thus, the reason for experiences of cyberbullying. Also, there was a significant relationship between motivations for social media use and CBB.

Keywords: Motivation, social media use, cyberbullying behaviours, public universities.