Beyond Fandom: The Dark Side of Social Media Discourse
In the evolving landscape of social media Hills’ (2017) concept of an “always on” digital space illustrates a transformative shift in behaviour and communication online. These digital environments often exhibit cyclical toxicity that permeates online discourse, which necessitates a focused examination. For instance, Le Clue’s (2023) research demonstrates the concerns surrounding the functioning of online communities and reveals an alarming unchecked spread of toxic rhetoric, intolerance, and hateful speech. The significance of the research conducted for this collection lies in its potential to offer insights into the impact of contemporary communication.