Aggression in Cyber Sphere: A Qualitative Study to Explore Saudi Arabian Social Media

Cyber aggression came about as a result of advances in information communication technology and the aggressive usage of the technology in real life. Nowadays, cyber aggression can take on many forms and faces. However, the main focus of this research is on violent online acts such as bullying and stalking. This qualitative research carried out to explore the concept of cyber aggression and its existence in Saudi Arabia. In-depth interviews were conducted with Saudi social media users to collect understanding and meanings of cyber aggression. A proposed model was generated to describe cyber aggression in Saudi Arabian social media sphere. The results showed that there is a level of acceptance to some cyber aggression acts due to a number of factors including lack of understanding, lack of help and support, societal and traditional influences, and other related aspects that would affect the level of cyber security in social media. This research is a valuable source for educators and researchers who focus on cyber security, cyber psychology, and cyber aggression in social media.