When people are hostile online, it is often because they have a smaller social network and, therefore, are not exposed to diverse points of view, a new study finds.
Anyone spending time on a social media platform is likely to discover how quickly a conversation can turn hostile. Now, a study using computer-assisted content analysis has identified social network size as a key factor in the civility of discourse.
The work considers online incivility during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has seen increased social media use and heightened discussion of hot-button issues, raised by the response to the disease.
As the study’s author observes, “COVID-19 is not just a health-related issue, it also generates numerous political conflicts.”
“In a time of isolation and collective trauma, social media allows for an immediate sharing of intense emotions. Prosocial behavior and positive affect may help to promote societal resilience,” explains Brenda K. Wiederhold, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, the journal in which the findings are published.
The study was the work of Bumsoo Kim, Ph.D., of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel.
“Incivility,” as defined in the research, refers to the use of language that employs “hostile, hateful, aggressive, and aspersive terms.” Specifically, the author cites name-calling, swear words, and pejorative speech.
“Social grooming” describes the presence of supportive behavior among members of one’s social n