Adolescents’ Interaction in WhatsApp Groups: The Normalisation of Violent Content

Abstract

Digital media consumption among adolescents raises significant concerns, particularly regarding the circulation of violent material in peer communication spaces. This study investigates how Spanish teenagers interact within WhatsApp groups and how such interactions contribute to the dissemination and normalisation of violence during a critical stage of psychosocial development. Data were collected from 164 secondary school students (mean age 14.4 years) through open-ended questionnaires, and a reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to explore their experiences with digital content shared in messaging groups. Participants reported frequent exposure to explicit material involving physical and sexual violence, hate speech, and, in some cases, self-harm. Clear gender differences emerged: boys were more likely to circulate such content, while girls more often reported feelings of rejection, discomfort, and emotional distress. Humour frequently functioned as a discursive strategy to legitimise the material, thereby reducing its perceived seriousness and reinforcing its normalisation within everyday peer interactions. The absence of adult supervision in these digital environments further exacerbated the problem, facilitating the persistence and reach of harmful content. Findings highlight the risks inherent in unregulated digital spaces and underscore the need for targeted educational and policy interventions. Promoting empathy, strengthening digital literacy, and fostering prosocial values appear essential to counteract processes of desensitisation and to mitigate the detrimental emotional and social consequences of violent content exposure during adolescence.