A new study links partisan activity on the Internet to widespread online toxicity, revealing that politically-engaged users exhibit uncivil behavior even in non-political discussions. The findings are based on an analysis of hundreds of millions of comments from over 6.3 million Reddit users.

Politically-engaged Redditors tend to be more toxic – even in non-political subreddits::A new study links partisan activity on the Internet to widespread online toxicity, revealing that politically-engaged users exhibit uncivil behavior even in non-political discussions. The findings are based on an analysis of hundreds of millions of comments from over 6.3 million Reddit users.

  • EatATaco@lemm.eeEnglish
    10·
    1 year ago

    How do you know they’re actually bots? 90% of the time, when I’m debating with someone who is passionately defending their position, they’ll at some point accuse me of being a bot or a shill. I also can’t recall any time I’ve debated someone and have been convinced they are a bot.

    I’m just skeptical as it’s a convenient ad hominem.

    • lagomorphlecture@lemm.eeEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      To be totally honest with you, I wouldn’t for one second be surprised if the bots are programmed to accuse humans of being bots.

    • SuddenDownpourEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      I have the same question. How do you distinguish an advanced enough bot from a genuinely dumb person?

      • aidan@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        1 year ago

        Or “smart” person. There are almost certainly bots who espouse beliefs that align with yours too.