Behavioural Responses and Proclivity of Facebook Users Towards Flaming

Abstract

The use of computer-mediated communication has increased the hostile expressions of emotion, termed flaming. Flaming is primarily social-context dependent. Often relatively anonymous and socially detached, electronic communication allows people to write things online that they would seldom consider saying face-to-face, generating flames. This study takes a closer look at the social context in which flaming occurs, which need not necessarily be developed online but, as well, can be the social, religious, and political background and affiliations of the participants. This paper includes a survey majorly conducted in a confined environment on 104 subjects and the result is analyzed based upon the feedback of the people. The research focuses on flaming tendencies, especially when incendiary messages or posts by Non-met friends on their friend list. The research adopted the method of random group of social networking sites users and studied the response patterns when faced with certain sensitive topics or comments. The research uses a Probit Model, which also validates the inclination towards flaming for the subjects, having more number of Non-met friends, were found to be more prone towards flaming, and males tended to participate more in the activity than did females.