Researchers from the Center for Data Science and Complexity for Society at the Department of Computer Science of the Sapienza University of Rome have published a new study in “Nature” that reveals that human behavior on social media has remained constant over the past 34 years, despite significant changes in platform technologies, social conditions, and algorithms. The research analyzed data from various platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, Gab, Youtube, and USNET and found recurring patterns of interactions among users that have remained consistent over time.
One interesting finding of the study was that toxic interactions on social media do not hinder user engagement. Individuals continue to participate in conversations even amidst highly polarized discussions. The researchers noted that each user contributes to toxicity to some extent, and the importance of single individuals or groups is marginal in this context. This suggests that toxicity is a pervasive pattern in online communication that transcends different platforms, algorithms, and social norms.
Despite the presence of toxic content and the evident polarization of online discourse, conversations persist rather than being disrupted by negativity. The study’s findings underscore the surprising resilience of the social media ecosystem to toxicity, suggesting that this characteristic could have significant implications for electoral outcomes worldwide in the coming months. In response to these findings, the Center for Data Science has established an observatory to monitor upcoming elections globally, including in Italy, the USA, and India, to analyze communication patterns and assess the impact of these dynamics on voting behavior.
The analysis highlighted polarization as a key factor contributing to toxicity on social media. Despite the presence of toxic content
