Kernekoncepter
The Great Ban, a massive deplatforming operation on Reddit, caused 15.6% of affected users to abandon the platform, while those who remained reduced their toxicity by 6.6% on average. However, 5% of users increased their toxicity by more than 70% of their pre-ban level, indicating unintended consequences of the intervention.
Resumé
The study analyzes the effects of The Great Ban, a massive deplatforming operation on Reddit that shut down nearly 2,000 communities in 2020. The researchers examined 16M comments posted by 17K users over 14 months, before and after the ban, to assess its effectiveness and unintended consequences.
Key findings:
- 15.6% of affected users abandoned Reddit after the ban. Those who remained reduced their toxicity by 6.6% on average.
- However, 5% of users increased their toxicity by more than 70% of their pre-ban level, indicating undesired side effects of the intervention.
- The presence of resentful users who became much more toxic was widespread across the analyzed subreddits, rather than concentrated in a few.
The results highlight the complex and nuanced effects of deplatforming, with both desired and unintended consequences. The study suggests the need for more personalized and targeted moderation approaches to balance the mitigation of toxicity with minimizing undesired user reactions.
Statistik
The Great Ban caused 15.6% of affected users to abandon Reddit.
Those who remained reduced their toxicity by 6.6% on average.
5% of users increased their toxicity by more than 70% of their pre-ban level.
Citater
"15.6% of the affected users abandoned Reddit after the ban."
"Those who remained on the platform reduced their toxicity by 6.6% on average."
"Around 5% of all users markedly increased their toxicity."