UNDERSTANDING BENIGN AND TOXIC ONLINE DISINHIBITION: THE ROLE OF SELF-ESTEEM IN GENERATION Z SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

Abstract

The rapid expansion of social media has intensified the manifestation of online disinhibition, where individuals communicate more freely, openly, or impulsively in digital spaces. This phenomenon is especially prevalent among Generation Z, a cohort of digital natives whose online behaviors are strongly intertwined with their psychological characteristics. This study investigates the role of self-esteem in shaping two distinct dimensions of online disinhibition—benign and toxic—among Generation Z social media users. Using a quantitative correlational design and purposive sampling, data were collected from 224 participants. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, while online disinhibition was assessed using the Online Disinhibition Scale (ODS). Spearman’s rank correlation was employed to analyze the relationships among variables. The findings revealed no significant correlation between self-esteem and overall online disinhibition (r = –0.068, p= 0.318). However, self-esteem showed a significant positive association with benign disinhibition (r= 0.132, p = 0.049) and a significant negative association with toxic disinhibition (r = –0.204, p = 0.002). These results emphasize the multidimensional nature of online disinhibition and indicate that self-esteem may differentially influence individuals’ adaptive and maladaptive online behaviors. The implications for digital well-being, online behavior interventions, and future research are discussed.