Online Disinhibition Effect and Verbal Aggressive Behavior on Social

Abstract

The rapid development of social media has transformed communication patterns in society, making interactions faster and more open. However, this transformation has also led to various social issues, including the increasing prevalence of verbal aggression in digital interactions. One psychological factor associated with this phenomenon is the Online Disinhibition Effect, which refers to individuals’ tendency to express their thoughts and emotions more freely in online environments compared to face-to-face communication. This study aims to examine the relationship between the Online Disinhibition Effect and verbal aggressive behavior on social media through a literature review approach. The method used in this study is a systematic literature review of scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 obtained from academic databases such as Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The search keywords included online disinhibition effect, verbal aggression, cyber aggression, cyberbullying, and social media behavior. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed descriptively to identify research patterns related to the factors influencing online disinhibition and its relationship with verbal aggression on social media. The findings indicate that characteristics of digital communication, such as anonymity and invisibility, can reduce social restraints and increase individuals’ tendency to express negative emotions impulsively. In addition, psychological factors such as low emotional regulation and self-control also contribute to the emergence of aggressive behavior in digital interactions. Therefore, efforts to reduce verbal aggression on social media should involve improving digital literacy, strengthening online communication ethics, and increasing users’ awareness of the psychological impacts of communication in digital spaces.