Hate speech on social media is a real problem with real consequences. Despite the constant efforts of social media platforms to moderate, flag, and ban hate posts, there is still a vast amount of hateful content flooding them. Hate speech, in general, and offensive material online, in particular, are not easy to define and may include a wide spectre of expression. To thoroughly account for the nature and intensity of the effects of hate speech in social media requires to distinguish between various shades of hate speech targeting different groups and their subsequent effects. This paper seeks to review the literature on the psychological effects of online hate speech on the LGBT community and to highlight the strong negative impact of this phenomenon. The paper aims to contribute to the field by examining the propagation and the effects of derogatory language and hate speech based on sexual orientation.

Drawing on the classic media theory of uses and gratifications, this paper comparatively analyzes the uses of YouTube and the rewards obtained by consumers and content of this video sharing platform. The aim of this research is two-fold: 1. to identify the main uses and gratifications that determine consumers and content creators to use YouTube, and 2) to examine the reasons behind the decision to become a content creator on YouTube. Based on a qualitative research method, the paper highlights how YouTube is used from the perspective of consumers and content creators and the types of needs it gratifies. The research consists of 20 in-depth interviews with YouTube consumers and content creators from Romania. While for content consumers YouTube is mainly a means of relaxation and information, for content creators this platform becomes a source of recognition and social validation. The study also indicates that vlogging can provide job-specific gratifications. Moreover, the research reveals essential aspects behind the decision to become a content creator.

Cyberbullying is a global phenomenon that has attracted scholarly attention since the beginning of this century. Due to the emergence of new media, researchers have focused their attention on new forms of cyberbullying and methods of intervention. In this context, the book Narratives in Research and Interventions on Cyberbullying among Young People comes to fill a gap identified in cyberbullying studies. This edited volume comprises chapters that discuss innovative ways of researching cyberbullying among young people by using the narrative approach; furthermore, the chapters also draw attention to current challenges regarding cyberbullying interventions.