Toxic Speech as Political Participation: How Social Media Users Justify Toxicity in Political Discussions

Social media is the place where most people report experiencing toxicity. While existing research has documented the prevalence and predictors of toxic behaviors, less is known about how individuals who engage in toxicity perceive and justify their actions, especially on mainstream platforms. This study addresses this gap by conducting 25 in-depth interviews with individuals who were toxic in political discussions on Facebook and Twitter. Contrary to the common depiction of toxic individuals as apolitical “trolls,” the findings reveal that many view their toxicity as a form of political participation. Three distinct justifications for using toxicity were identified: Venting political frustrations, pursuing truth through blunt deliberation, and seeking to persuade or mobilize others. These findings suggest toxicity as a deliberate, though hostile, form of political engagement and highlight the diverse functions social media serves for politically motivated users. The study calls for targeted interventions to address the distinct motivations underlying toxicity.