Study Finds Human Behavior, Not Social Media Platforms, Drive Toxicity Online
Recent research spanning over three decades suggests that toxicity in online discussions is more linked to human nature than to the design of social media platforms.
- A comprehensive study analyzing over 500 million threads across eight platforms over 34 years finds that human behavior is the primary driver of online toxicity.
- Toxicity does not deter users from social media; engagement patterns in toxic and non-toxic conversations are nearly identical.
- The study challenges the common belief that social media platforms and algorithms are the main contributors to online toxicity.
- Polarization and diverse opinions contribute more to hostile online discussions than toxicity itself, reinforcing platform participation.
- The research suggests that content moderation and cognitive media training can reduce online toxicity by addressing human behavior.
EL PAÍS 
Nature 