Lynching culture against women on social media: The case of twitter (X)

Social media, which is included in our lives with the developing technology, has become indispensable in daily life. Social media networks developed with Web 2.0 technology offer users the opportunity to interact with other users simultaneously without space and time limitations. It is used by people from all segments of the society due to its affordable cost, easy use and interaction feature. Social media networks, where people from different views come together, have become a place of violence. Virtual lynching acts, which have replaced physical violence, are carried out with the use of hate speech against the targeted groups by using the interaction feature of social media. Women, who are in a disadvantaged position in society, are among the groups that are subjected to virtual lynching on social media. In this context, it is aimed to determine the reasons behind women becoming the target of lynch culture due to their posts on social media and the role of social media in the formation of lynch culture. The lynching incident against women on the X platform constitutes the sample of the research. The sample was analysed using content analysis method. In the research, it was determined that women become the target of lynching due to gender roles and that social media indirectly affects the formation of lynching with the features offered to users.