Summary
In “Antisocial Behavior in Online Discussion Communities,” the authors analyze and characterize antisocial behavior of users over time in three online discussion communities, CNN, Breitbart, and IGN. Users of these communities are distinguished into two categories – being banned (Future-Banned Users, FBUs) and never being banned (Never-Banned Users, NBUs). The characteristics that differentiate FBUs from NBUs include using more profanity and less positive words, writing in concentrated individual threads, writing harder to understand posts, and posting less similarly like other users. By comparing posts written by FBUs and NBUs, it was found that the way FBUs are more likely to get off-topic and write posts that appear to be less readable. Similarly, it was made evident that FBUs are effective at engaging other users in irrelevant conversations. Another question the paper addresses is “how do FBUs and their effect on the community change over time?” Through a study of FBUs posts over 17 months, the authors determined that text quality of posts by FBUs decrease, but do not by NBUs. FBUs also became less tolerated by the community over time, and were banned from posting in threads. In order to identify antisocial users before they become FBUs, Cheng, Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil, and Leskovec establish four features – post readability, user activity, interaction with the community, and moderator involvement.
Reflection
I found the passages about the effects of FBUs on the community interesting because not only do FBUs have a negative effect on the community, the communities also do on FUBs. As the authors state in the paper, “communities play a part in incubating antisocial behavior,” which is definitely true. For instance, communities have a part in creating FBUs by excessively censoring them and having negative reactions to their posts (though in many cases, it may be for good reason). Furthermore, communities also foster antisocial behavior by reacting to FBUs posts, which then can lead to further provocations by FBUs and arguments between the parties. From first hand experience, I think we all know it’s difficult to not respond to a comment that offends us or promotes an opposing viewpoint. I suppose that’s a good reason as to why discussion communities include downvoting – users don’t need to verbally express their disapproval of a post.
Questions
- What makes FBUs want to continue writing harmful/fruitless posts in discussions?
- Since there are methods to detects FBUs, are there ways to help potential FBUs remain as NBUs?
- How fast do moderators delete posts?
