Dynamics of the Use of Verbal Aggression in Social Networks (Based on the Survey of Future Teachers)

Abstract

The article continues a series of investigations into verbal aggression as a form of conflict-provoking behavior in social networks based on anonymous questionnaires of higher education applicants. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that the exhaustion of society in the conditions of a full-scale war and its information overload lead to a decrease in the level of communicative culture, in particular, an increase in manifestations of verbal aggression. Purpose. The article, based on the material of an anonymous survey of students of pedagogical specialties, reveals the dynamics of awareness of higher education applicants regarding verbal aggression in virtual space; changes in linguopragmatic markers of verbal violence in the student environment (ridicule, disrespectful comments, threats) were identified based on the results of comparing survey indicators from 2023 and 2025. The main research method chosen was an anonymous survey of students, with questionnaire questions focused on identifying language means of aggression in social networks. Results. It was found that during 2023-2025, the number of future teachers who have information about verbal aggression in virtual space significantly increased. Compared to the previous survey, the impact of the polarization of society in the conditions of a full-scale war on the spread of destructive communication is clearly visible - an increase in verbal aggression regarding political views, nationality, and language. Originality. Sociocultural changes in Ukrainian society, caused by the large-scale war, have intensified manifestations of verbal aggression in spoken, media, and artistic discourse. The growth of manifestations of conflict-prone communication requires research into the dynamics of this phenomenon, particularly in the context of training future teachers, since it is they who should be carriers of tolerant and cultural-linguistic practices. Conclusion. It was found that 88.4% of respondents are informed about verbal violence on social networks; the previous indicator (2023) was 58.9% of respondents. A comparison of the results of a survey of higher education applicants in pedagogical specialties in 2023 and 2025 confirms the dynamics of the use of linguopragmatic markers of verbal aggression in social networks. In general, we note a significant increase in manifestations of conflict-provoking communication in the student environment according to all identified linguistic markers. It is also important to take into account the topics indicated in the questionnaires with which future teachers associate manifestations of verbal aggression: politics - 31.5% of survey participants, language issue - 20.7%, nationality - 14.8%. The spread of destructive communication in virtual communication is accompanied by a decrease in the tolerance of higher education students to verbal aggression and an increase in their level of awareness of this problem, however, we note a disturbing trend: some respondents show an ambivalent attitude towards aggression - understanding its harmfulness and getting used to manifestations of verbal aggression.