An Ideological Analysis of Defamation in Selected YouTube Videos: A Critical Discourse Analysis Study

Abstract

The rapid growth of the Internet has an impact on many facets of daily life, including social communication. The prevalence of defamation on social media platforms is a significant component of this development. Through language, social groupings fight among themselves and promote their own views. Discourse indicates an ideology's influence based on this idea. This paper conducts a critical discourse analysis of defamation in selected YouTube videos. The study aims at examining the way a defamatory content published on YouTube affects the defamed person and detecting the hidden ideologies which motivate text producers to defame the target individual. In order to achieve the aims of this study, the researcher adopts a model for the sake of analysing the data from a critical discourse analysis perspective and analyses the data qualitatively to acquire a comprehensive critical understanding of the nature and traits of defamation in particular texts on YouTube. The collected texts are chosen from three defamatory videos published by Mr. Kevin J. Johnston. The researcher concludes that defamatory publications cover discrimination, prejudice, and racism; these ideologies are capable of motivating a person to defame and harm someone on social media platforms in general and on YouTube in particular.