INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
The Influence of Triggering Posts and Hate Speech on the Attitudes,  
Justifications, and Motivations of Cyberbullying Perpetrators on  
Social Media  
Redwan Yasin1, Wan Amir Azlan Wan Haniff2*, Hassan Basri Jahubar Sathik3, Wardatul Husna  
Khairil Nizam4, Muhammad Zamir Mat Razi5  
1Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia  
2Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor, 85000, Malaysia  
3,4Asia Metropolitan University, Subang Jaya, 47600, Malaysia  
5Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, 40450, Malaysia  
*Correspondence Author  
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91100260  
Received: 18 November 2025; Accepted: 27 November 2025; Published: 06 December 2025  
ABSTRACT  
Social media has become the primary platform for sharing information and personal experiences, but some  
sensitive or provocative posts, known as triggering posts can provoke negative emotions such as anger, sadness,  
or anxiety. Such content has the potential to trigger cyberbullying because it influences perpertrators’ moral  
perceptions and their justifications for aggressive online behavior. This study aims to assess perpetrators’  
attitudes toward cyberbullying and to identify the justifications and motivations that drive their actions. The  
study’s objectives include evaluating levels of acceptance, moral perception, and the tendency of perpetrators to  
view bullying as justified, as well as understanding the reasons they use to rationalize their behavior. The study  
used a quantitative approach with a structured questionnaire involving 193 social media users. Data were  
analyzed descriptively and inferentially to assess attitude patterns and the relationship between exposure to  
triggering posts and the tendency to engage in cyberbullying. The findings show that perpetrators often justify  
aggressive behavior as a response to provocative content and consider their actions acceptable. These findings  
suggest the need for specific legislation addressing triggering posts and support for the government to introduce  
mandatory social media account registration for all Malaysian citizens.  
Keywords: POCMA, justification, discipline, registration, mass communication, rage bait, motivations  
INTRODUCTION  
According to Zakharchenko (2018), a "triggering post" is a social media post that can provoke negative emotions  
such as sadness, anger, or anxiety because it touches on sensitive issues or reminds someone of unpleasant  
experiences, for example those related to bullying, violence, or personal conflict. Another example of a  
triggering post is content about marital infidelity shared on social media when someone recounts a partner’s  
betrayal, it can spark anger, sorrow, or insecurity in people who have experienced similar situations.  
There are also rage-bait posts that use inflammatory statements, such as insulting a particular group, distorting  
facts to provoke anger, or employing provocative language deliberately designed to elicit extreme emotional  
reactions (Sing, 2018; Shin, DeFelice, & Kim, 2025). Rice (2023) argues that these kinds of posts are considered  
triggering because they can reactivate past negative experiences or be indirectly related to a person’s own trauma,  
causing emotional distress and making people feel threatened or uncomfortable even when they encounter the  
content online. Anypas et al. (2024) note that the aim of a triggering post is often to achieve higher audience  
engagement.  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
Wagner and Yu (2021) argue that triggering posts can lead to cyberbullying because content that touches on  
sensitive or provocative issues can provoke strong emotions in other users, prompting them to leave harsh  
comments, launch personal attacks, or publicly spread insults (Jattamart & Kwangsawad, 2021; Subrahmanyam  
& Šmahel, 2010).  
For example, a post about marital infidelity can invite condemnation, rash accusations, and the spreading of  
shame, while rage-bait draws in easily angered users who engage in arguments and hurl insults without knowing  
the real people behind the story. As discussions heat up, other users may join in and add pressure, leaving the  
target exposed to ongoing mockery, doxxing and digging up of past information, defamation, and online social  
isolation, this is what eventually develops into cyberbullying (Fox, 2024).  
Accordingly, the researcher conducted this study with 193 respondents, each of whom was asked questions about  
cyberbullying. Some questions assessed the perpetrators’ attitudes, justifications, and motivations regarding  
cyberbullying in the context of digital media use. From the collected data, the researcher was able to examine  
how some individuals view online bullying as acceptable, whether because they see it as merely entertainment,  
a response to provocation, or a way to gain attention and social power.  
The study also helped identify common rationalizations perpetrators use to justify their actions, such as blaming  
the victim or believing the internet provides a consequence-free space. Overall, this assessment offers a clearer  
picture of the psychological and social factors that drive someone to engage in cyberbullying, thereby aiding the  
design of more effective preventive interventions. Through detailed analysis, the study aims to provide a deep  
understanding of how perpetrators evaluate their own behavior and society, as well as the factors that motivate  
or legitimize their actions. These findings not only help illuminate the thought patterns and attitudes that  
contribute to cyberbullying, but also provide an important foundation for developing more effective educational,  
regulatory, and intervention strategies to address the issue holistically.  
Problem Statement  
Although social media use is becoming more widespread and cyberbullying incidents continue to rise,  
understanding of perpertrators’ attitudes, justifications, and motivations remains limited. Most previous studies  
have focused on victims’ experiences, while the internal factors that drive individuals to act as perpetrators have  
received less attention.  
This lack of information makes it difficult to design effective prevention strategies, because without  
understanding how perpetrators evaluate and rationalize their behavior, interventions developed may miss the  
mark. This situation creates an urgent need to investigate how perpetrators form perceptions, reasons, and  
motivations when engaging in cyberbullying so that efforts to address the issue can be more comprehensive and  
evidence-based.  
Research Objective  
Based on those issues and gaps in knowledge, this study sets two (2) objectives:  
1. To assess perpetrators’ attitudes toward cyberbullying behavior, including levels of acceptance, moral  
perceptions, and their tendency to view such actions as justified or acceptable.  
2. To identify the justifications and motivations that drive perpetrators to engage in cyberbullying, such as  
emotional influences, peer pressure, entertainment factors, and the belief that their actions have no real  
consequences.  
LITERATURE REVIEW  
Social media has become a primary platform for sharing information, opinions, and personal experiences.  
However, Ibrahim (2022) argues that some posts can trigger negative emotions, especially when they touch on  
sensitive issues or personal controversies. This phenomenon is known as triggering posts, content that provokes  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
anger, sadness, insecurity, or anxiety in individuals exposed to it (Kumar, 2024). Triggering posts have the  
potential to encourage aggressive online behavior because they can influence perpetrators’ moral perceptions  
and justifications for cyberbullying (Runions & Bak, 2015).  
Examples of content that provoke emotional reactions in Malaysia include statements that insult or promote  
stereotypes. For example, a post by a national influencer labeled Mass Communication, theater, and music as  
the “dumbest” fields. He also described men who change their babies’ diapers as “gay,” and expressed the view  
that a woman’s role is limited to doing housework and satisfying her husband’s desires.  
There have also been controversial incidents, such as individuals being exposed in scandals or infidelity cases  
that spread openly on social media, angering readers. Such posts not only cause emotional distress but can also  
trigger cyberbullying (Çakar-Mengü & Mengü, 2023). Users exposed to provocative content may be driven to  
leave abusive comments, make personal attacks, or widely share the provocateur’s material. This kind of content  
fuels rage-baiting, where posts are deliberately designed to provoke extreme emotional reactions and online  
conflict.  
Bauman (2019) argues that triggering posts not only harm victims directly but also shape the perceptions and  
justifications of perpetrators, leading them to view aggressive online behavior as acceptable (Gamez-Guadix &  
Gini, 2016). This situation shows that understanding the nature, types, and effects of triggering posts is essential  
for addressing cyberbullying. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess perpetrators’ attitudes, justifications,  
and motivations for engaging in cyberbullying, particularly when exposed to content that elicits negative  
emotions. The study can provide in-depth insight into the psychological and social factors that drive people to  
engage in cyberbullying and help develop more effective prevention strategies.  
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  
This study uses a quantitative approach with a questionnaire to assess perpetrators’ attitudes, justifications, and  
motivations for cyberbullying behavior, particularly in the context of exposure to triggering posts. A total of 193  
respondents were selected through simple random sampling from among active social media users. The study is  
descriptive and analytical in nature, allowing the researchers to evaluate patterns of attitudes and perpetrators’  
perceptions of cyberbullying.  
The questionnaire contains three main sections: respondents’ demographic information such as age, gender,  
education level, and social media use; respondents’ attitudes toward cyberbullying; and the justifications and  
motivations that drive perpetrators to engage in cyberbullying.  
The questionnaire uses a 5-point Likert scale to measure respondents’ level of agreement with statements related  
to exposure to cyberbullying, its emotional or perceptual impacts, attitudes toward online bullying, and the moral  
justifications and motivations that enable perpetrators to rationalize their actions. The following are statements  
related to triggering posts that provoke perpetrators to cyberbully:  
1. I believe cyberbullying often occurs because people are easily influenced by online bullying culture.  
2. I believe society views cyberbullying as a way to discipline certain individuals.  
3. I perceive that others enjoy insulting people online more than I do.  
4. Cyberbullying is more often carried out by users who are unaware of its effects on victims than by me.  
5. I believe supporting or “liking” negative comments is done more by others than by me.  
The study hypothesis posits a significant relationship between exposure to triggering posts and a perpetrator’s  
tendency to engage in cyberbullying: the stronger the effect of a triggering post on a perpetrator’s emotions or  
perceptions, the more likely they are to justify online bullying.  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Descriptive analysis was  
used to assess patterns of perpetrators’ attitudes, justifications, and motivations, while inferential analysis was  
used to test the relationship between exposure to triggering posts and the propensity to commit cyberbullying in  
order to evaluate the study hypothesis. This study also adhered to research ethics principles: all respondents gave  
voluntary consent, their identities were kept confidential, and their information was handled securely. Based on  
theory and preliminary questionnaire findings, the following hypothesis was formulated:  
H1: There is a significant relationship between exposure to triggering posts and a perpetrator’s tendency to  
engage in cyberbullying; the stronger the effect of a triggering post on a perpetrator’s emotions or perceptions,  
the more likely they are to justify online bullying.  
FINDINGS  
This study of 193 respondents provides an in-depth picture of how perpetrators may evaluate and justify  
cyberbullying behavior, especially when exposed to triggering posts. The findings show that exposure to  
sensitive content, such as infidelity, public humiliation, or provocative statements, is often used as a rationale to  
shift responsibility onto others, thereby preserving a positive self-image even when they may have participated  
in online aggressive behavior.  
Attitudes Towards Cyberbullying  
The findings indicate that the majority of respondents perceive others as more likely to engage in cyberbullying  
than themselves, with 148 respondents agreeing that others are more likely to leave offensive comments. This  
distancing attitude demonstrates the predator's tendency to deny their involvement, even though they also  
acknowledge the existence of a culture of online contempt. More importantly, this perception is closely linked  
to the phenomenon of triggering posts, as sensitive content is often considered "worthy" of harsh criticism.  
As many as 120 respondents believe that society considers harsh criticism as part of freedom of speech, proving  
that many social media users do not see scathing comments as a form of bullying. In the context of triggering  
posts, this normalisation encourages perpertrators to express emotional reactions aggressively, as they consider  
such behaviour acceptable as long as they are "responding" to anger-inducing content.  
Additionally, 109 respondents agreed that victims are often labelled as "too sensitive," indicating that  
perpertrators underestimate the emotional impact of their actions. When faced with triggering posts, they are  
more likely to blame the victim for uploading allegedly provocative content, thus justifying aggressive behaviour  
as a reasonable response.  
Other findings, such as 146 respondents who believe others are more likely to leave negative comments and 158  
respondents who believe others often share personal information, indicate that toxic behaviour is considered  
commonplace in digital culture. In the context of triggering posts, this normalisation reinforces the belief that  
aggressive actions are "acceptable" if initiated by content that evokes negative emotions.  
Justification and Motivation for Cyberbullying  
In terms of justification, 169 respondents believe that cyberbullying occurs because individuals are easily  
influenced by the online bullying culture. This is closely related to the phenomenon of triggering posts, as  
perpertrators see aggressive reactions as a normal response when dealing with sensitive issues such as infidelity,  
politics, or hateful statements.  
As many as 88 respondents believe that society uses cyberbullying to "discipline" someone, indicating that some  
users use triggering posts as a reason to "teach" or publicly shame other individuals. This justification allows  
perpertrators to see their actions as justified, not as aggressive behaviour.  
The fact that 147 respondents agreed that others enjoy online humiliation indicates that, even if they don't admit  
it directly, they understand that the reaction to triggering posts often serves as a space to vent anger or mock the  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
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victim. This aligns with the phenomenon of moral disengagement, where perpertrators rationalise their actions  
as entertainment or spontaneous responses.  
Additionally, 150 respondents believe that true perpertrators are unaware of the impact of their actions on their  
victims. In the context of triggering posts, perpertrators often view their comments as mere reactions to  
provocative content rather than attacks that carry serious emotional consequences. Finally, the 131 respondents  
who distanced themselves from passive actions like "liking" or supporting negative comments also indicated  
that perpertrators often underestimate their engagement when faced with triggering posts. They don't see passive  
support as part of the bullying culture, whereas the action contributes to the reinforcement of aggressive  
behaviour.  
CONCLUSION  
The hypothesis is supported by the findings, which indicate that triggering posts on social media can elicit  
negative emotions and act as a catalyst for cyberbullying behaviour. Perpertrators tend to justify their actions  
based on provocative or sensitive content, rationalising aggressive behaviour as a natural reaction or  
entertainment. The study findings emphasise the importance of understanding the attitudes, motivations, and  
justifications of perpertrators to design more effective prevention strategies. Overall, this study provides an  
important foundation for addressing cyberbullying holistically, focussing not only on the victims but also on the  
factors that drive someone to become a perpetrator.  
Effectively addressing triggering posts requires strong legal support, where provocative or hateful cyber actions  
are prohibited and perpetrators are subject to legal action. Singapore has introduced the Protection from Online  
Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) as a measure to address the spread of false information and  
provocative content that could incite conflict or negative emotions on social media (Han, 2020). Through this  
law, the government has the authority to flag, correct, or remove content that is proven to be misleading or  
intentionally inflammatory (rage-bait). POFMA aims to reduce the spread of harmful information before it  
becomes widespread, thereby curbing the potential for online bullying and fostering a more responsible digital  
environment (Figure, 2024).  
This step allows platforms and users to re-evaluate their content, simultaneously raising awareness about the  
negative impact of sharing false or provocative information. From the aspect of cyberbullying, the Malaysian  
government's move to mandate social media account registration is a strategy that has the potential to increase  
user accountability, as real identities can be identified in the event of the spread of triggering posts or  
cyberbullying. This approach can reduce the anonymity often exploited by perpertrators to justify their actions,  
while also fostering a more responsible digital culture. By combining law enforcement, account registration, and  
platform monitoring, Malaysia has the potential to adapt international best practices to address triggering posts  
more systematically and reduce the risk of cyberbullying.  
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