Replying, disliking, flagging: How users engage with uncivil and impolite comments on news sites

Anja Kalch; Teresa K. Naab

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-395

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- I–II Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis I–II
- 315–332 EDITORIAL 315–332
  - Online user comments across news and other content formats: Multidisciplinary perspectives, new directions Marc Ziegele, Nina Springer, Pablo Jost, Scott Wright Marc Ziegele, Nina Springer, Pablo Jost, Scott Wright
- 333–443 FULL PAPER 333–443
  - 333–364 Making sense of user comments: Identifying journalists’ requirements for a comment analysis framework Wiebke Loosen, Marlo Häring, Zijad Kurtanović, Lisa Merten, Julius Reimer, Lies van Roessel, Walid Maalej Wiebke Loosen, Marlo Häring, Zijad Kurtanović, Lisa Merten, Julius Reimer, Lies van Roessel, Walid Maalej 333–364
  - 365–394 Facebook discussions of journalistic news: Investigating article objectivity, topic, and media brand as influencing factors Lara Brückner, Wolfgang Schweiger Lara Brückner, Wolfgang Schweiger 365–394
  - 395–419 Replying, disliking, flagging: How users engage with uncivil and impolite comments on news sites Anja Kalch, Teresa K. Naab Anja Kalch, Teresa K. Naab 395–419
  - 420–443 Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites Anne Reinhardt, Winja Weber, Constanze Rossmann Anne Reinhardt, Winja Weber, Constanze Rossmann 420–443
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY Access

SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 395 - 419

Replying, disliking, flagging: How users engage with uncivil and impolite comments on news sites

Autoren

Anja Kalch Teresa K. Naab

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-395
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

Uncivil and impolite user comments diminish the quality of deliberative discussions in the comment sections of news sites. This study investigates how users engage against such comments. Replying, disliking, and flagging are distinguished as different options of user engagement that vary in their functionality for discussion sections. To investigate the effects of incivility and impoliteness on user engagement, we conducted a 2 (civil vs. uncivil user comment) x 2 (polite vs. impolite user comment) online experiment. Results show that users engaged against impolite comments that attacked Muslims by flagging or by writing a reply against the language style or a reply against the expressed opinion. Incivility did not influence user engagement. The effects are moderated by Islamophobic attitudes. The results give detailed insights into readers’ behavior in discussion threads and have consequences for professional moderation.
Share