FEAR OF CYBER COMMUNICATION THREAT EFFECTS ON ONLINE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSIONS

This research article provides insight into the issue of the effect of cyber communication threats on online freedom of expression. Victims of cyber communication threats may avoid expressing themselves on cyber communication technology. This study quests for the rate of cyber communication threats faced by students having a relationship with how freely they express their views about political and social issues in online spaces. The study interviewed 800 students from six leading universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan over a closed-ended questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested through statistical procedures. Results revealed that the hypothesis is partially accepted. Results also suggested that that cyber harassment and online identity theft harm online freedom of expression about political and social views while receiving unwanted material, hacking, and viruses showed positive correlation and having a positive effect on online freedom of expression about political and social views. Disciplinary: Communications and Social Media Studies (Cyber Communications, Political Communication), Information Technology. (c) 2020 INT TRANS J ENG MANAG SCI TECH.