Sexual Harassment on Social Media

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the nature of language usage, form, type, and severity of sexual harassment in social media and to study the perceptions and responses of sexual harassment in social media among Thai audience. Data was collected via social media news channels, including Facebook pages and YouTube websites from 3 channels, which are Channel 3 (“Rueng Lao Chao Nee”), Thairath Channel (“Thairath News Show”), and Workpoint Channel. (“Workpoint News Program”) During 1 March – 31 May 2019 by choosing to collect messages that are sexually harassing located in the headline section and the comment area from all news that are posted on the Facebook page and YouTube website according to the specified area criteria. And information from in-depth interviews through a sample group representing males and females in 3 generations, which are Generation X Generation Y and Generation Z, a total of 12 people.

Research results in the headline section found 6characteristics of language prone to sexual harassment in the headlines from most to least, 1) the use of language to create news stories by promoting sex 2) the use of language in a descriptive or metaphorical manner to body/dress/sexual behavior/gender of the people in the news 3) the use of language in stereotypes gender of people in news 4) the use of language in a negative way of referring to people in the news in relation to body/dress/gender behavior/gender 5) the use of language that creates a gender bias against people in the news 6) the use of language suggesting to sexuality

Research results in the comment areas, the most common type of sexual harassment were found from most to least: Sexually unfavorable atmosphere creating behaviors, Gender harassment, Unwanted sexual attention, and Sexual coercion. The three most found severity of sexual harassment from most to least: Severity level 3 (Direct sexual harassment or specific harassers who are clearly harassed), Severity level 2 (Sexual harassment that the harasser is not specific to the threatened person), Severity level 1 (The use of sexual language but the person who was harassed was not identified)

Perception and response of Thai audiences to sexual harassment in social media was found that the audiences perceived sexual harassment through words that complimented their appearance or the way they were dressed. Sexual harassment on social media is often considered inappropriate, disgusting behavior in the female audience, while it is often classified as a behavior that can occur because it is a public space, especially if there is already a sexual content in male audience. However, all audiences agreed that allowing sexually harassing comments in public spaces would create social norms to get used to the behavior and affect any person who may not have the skills in media literacy.

For solving the problem of sexual harassment on social media, the audience agrees that it should be solved through 3 parts: Media users; that should have common sense when using public spaces, Media provider that should be responsible for their area and the Government that can be done through laws and policy.