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Researchers Develop Online Hate Speech “Shockwave” Formula (web.archive.org)
submitted 1 year ago by 0x815@feddit.de to c/technology@beehaw.org
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A George Washington University research team created a novel formula that demonstrates how, why, and when hate speech spreads throughout social media. They found that hate speech ripples through online communities in a pattern that non-hateful content typically does not follow. Researchers hope the formula can serve as a tool for moderators to project the shockwave-like spread of hateful content and develop methods to delay, divert, and prevent it from spiraling out of control.

Here is the study (trigger warning: maths): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364771702_Shockwaves_and_turbulence_across_social_media

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[-] 108beads@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Fascinating stuff, although I do not pretend to grok the maths.

On the one hand, seems to offer formulaic approach to creating effective interventions to curb online hate-speech. A more functional approach than hand-wringing, and more effective than "thoughts and prayers" platitudes following IRL consequences of hate-speech.

On the other hand, who decides what is undesirable hate speech? For instance, I could see both of the US abortion debate "sides" (yes, I know, there are more than two) claiming the other is wrong, is promoting hate or harm. Each side might feel itself justified seeking to intervene to prevent spread of an ideology.

this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2023
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