Emotional Expression and Digital Ethics: A Philosophical Study of Affective Intensity In Virtual Media

Abstract

his study examines the relationship between emotional expression and digital ethics in online communication, emphasizing how affective intensity shapes social interactions in virtual space. Using an interdisciplinary qualitative approach that combines the philosophy of affect and information ethics, the analysis focuses on the performativity of affect, the mechanisms of emotional commodification by algorithms, and the ethical implications of digital expression practices. A review of concepts referencing the work of Sara Ahmed, Brian Massumi, and Luciano Floridi indicates that emotions in digital media are constructed through algorithmic logic operating within the framework of affective capitalism. Affective intensity can be a means of social and political mobilization, but it also has the potential to give rise to forms of emotional violence, including polarization and doxing. On the other hand, the pressure to display certain emotions for digital incentives creates tension between authenticity and performativity. The digital space ultimately creates a hierarchy of affection that blurs the lines between expression and manipulation and reinforces inequalities in emotional representation. Based on these findings, this study proposes strengthening affective literacy to equip users with the skills to critically recognize and evaluate emotional dynamics, while also promoting the development of more ethical and inclusive technology designs to create a healthy and emotionally just digital ecosystem.