A Study on Chinese Social Media Xiaohongshu Users' Attitudes Toward Offensive Comments

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, 471000, China

^* Corresponding author: 200113@yzpc.edu.cn

Abstract

With the rapid development of emerging digital technologies, social media platforms have proliferated like mushrooms after rain. Xiaohongshu is among the highly trusted "word-of-mouth libraries" for Chinese social media users, offering numerous conveniences while also subjecting users to disruptive offensive language. This study analyzes the various emotions and behavioral mechanisms exhibited by Xiaohongshu users when confronted with offensive language, as well as the underlying reasons for these reactions. It underscores the positive impact on society of enhancing online supervision, safeguarding user privacy and security, optimizing service functionalities on social media platforms, increasing user engagement, and fostering media literacy among users to promote moderate use of social media. Through questionnaire surveys, the study reveals that offensive language on Xiaohongshu induces negative emotions such as anger, sadness, confusion, and anxiety among users. Consequently, users employ strategies such as rebuttal, reporting, and even reducing their frequency of using Xiaohongshu to counteract the harm caused by offensive language.