What question did this study set out to answer?

This research investigates how social rewards influence the toxicity of online political discussions and user behavior over time.

June 20, 2026Open Access

Coupled Social Rewards and Toxicity in Online Political Discussions

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

This research investigates how social rewards influence the toxicity of online political discussions and user behavior over time.
Analyzed over 500 million comments across 400 political subreddits on Reddit.
Examined the relationship between comment toxicity and user engagement related to social rewards like votes.
Identified subreddit characteristics predicting variations in community reward-learning for toxicity.
Strong evidence shows that highly-voted comments are more toxic.
Users increase comment toxicity based on higher scores from previous comments.
Subreddit characteristics can predict differing user responses to social rewards in relation to toxicity patterns.

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Randomized trial analyzes social rewards impacting comment toxicity in political subreddits, suggesting new intervention strategies.

Hongkai Mao (2024) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark