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💬 The Patterns of Online Toxicity

Nature published an in-depth study of toxicity in online conversations across multiple platforms and decades. The patterns are strikingly consistent: regardless of platform or era, the biggest factor shaping the health of discourse is how polarised people's opinions are. Toxicity doesn't s

Danu Poyner

· 1 minute

A scientific study on patterns of social media toxicity
nature.com

Nature published an in-depth study of toxicity in online conversations across multiple platforms and decades. The patterns are strikingly consistent: regardless of platform or era, the biggest factor shaping the health of discourse is how polarised people's opinions are. Toxicity doesn't seem to make people leave conversations — but it can discourage others from joining. 'The persistence of these patterns across three decades underscores the pivotal role of human behaviour in shaping online discourse.'

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Danu Poyner

Danu is a writer and founder of Grokkist, a learning community in the deepest sense. His work centres on coherence, curiosity, and helping people make sense of themselves in relation to ideas, experience, and one another.

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