Behind the Screens: How Anonymity, Social Media Usage, and Platform Type Fuel Toxic Online Disinhibition in Gen Z

Karimatul Rizqi; Sabiqotul Husna

doi:10.30872/psikostudia.v15i3.26396

Behind the Screens: How Anonymity, Social Media Usage, and Platform Type Fuel Toxic Online Disinhibition in Gen Z

Karimatul Rizqi, Sabiqotul Husna

Abstract

Interactions of Generation Z in increasingly unrestricted digital spaces can trigger the toxic online disinhibition effect. This study examined the relationships between anonymity, social media usage duration, and platform characteristics with toxic online disinhibition effect among Generation Z users in Java Island. A quantitative correlational design was employed with 280 participants (35 males, 245 females; M age = 21.96) selected via quota sampling. Instruments included an anonymity scale, measures of usage duration and platform characteristics, and a toxic online disinhibition effect scale. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with classical assumption tests, alongside nonparametric tests for demographic variables. Results indicated that anonymity, usage duration, and platform characteristics jointly explained 23.2% of the variance in toxic disinhibition (R² = .232), with anonymity as the strongest predictor. A follow-up model examining individual platforms explained 26.3% of the variance, showing that usage exceeding three hours daily and use of Twitter/X and TikTok were significantly associated with increased toxic disinhibition, whereas Instagram and Facebook showed no significant effect. Toxic disinhibition also differed significantly across platforms overall, but not by gender or age. These findings suggest that the toxic online disinhibition effect arises from a complex interaction of individual factors, usage behaviors, and platform characteristics, highlighting the need for interventions that consider both the duration of use and the unique dynamics of each social media platform.

Interaksi Generasi Z di ruang digital yang semakin tidak terbatas berpotensi memunculkan toxic online disinhibition effect. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji hubungan antara anonimitas, durasi penggunaan media sosial, dan karakteristik platform dengan toxic online disinhibition effect pada pengguna Generasi Z di Pulau Jawa. Desain penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif korelasional dengan 280 partisipan (35 laki-laki, 245 perempuan; M usia = 21,96) yang dipilih melalui teknik quota sampling. Instrumen penelitian meliputi skala anonimitas, pengukuran durasi penggunaan dan karakteristik platform, serta skala toxic online disinhibition effect. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan regresi linear berganda setelah uji asumsi klasik, serta uji beda nonparametrik untuk variabel demografis. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa anonimitas, durasi penggunaan, dan karakteristik platform secara bersama-sama menjelaskan 23,2% varians toxic disinhibition (R² = 0,232), dengan anonimitas sebagai prediktor terkuat. Model lanjutan yang menguji platform secara individual menjelaskan 26,3% varians, menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan lebih dari tiga jam per hari serta penggunaan Twitter/X dan TikTok berhubungan signifikan dengan peningkatan toxic disinhibition, sedangkan Instagram dan Facebook tidak menunjukkan pengaruh signifikan. Toxic online disinhibition juga berbeda signifikan antar-platform secara keseluruhan, namun tidak berbeda berdasarkan gender atau usia. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa perilaku toxic online disinhibition muncul dari interaksi kompleks antara faktor individual, perilaku penggunaan, dan karakteristik platform, sehingga intervensi perlu mempertimbangkan durasi penggunaan serta dinamika tiap platform media sosial.

Keywords

Anonimity; Toxic Online Disinhibition Effect; Z Generation; Social Media Use

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30872/psikostudia.v15i3.26396

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