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Network toxicity analysis: an information-theoretic approach to studying the social dynamics of online toxicity

Author

Listed:
  • Rupert Kiddle

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Petter Törnberg

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Damian Trilling

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

The rise of social media has corresponded with an increase in the prevalence and severity of online toxicity. While much work has gone into understanding its nature, we still lack knowledge of its emergent structural dynamics. This work presents a novel method—network toxicity analysis—for the inductive analysis of the dynamics of discursive toxicity within social media. Using an information-theoretic approach, this method estimates toxicity transfer relationships between communicating agents, yielding an effective network describing how those entities influence one another, over time, in terms of their produced discursive toxicity. This method is applied to Telegram messaging data to demonstrate its capacity to induce meaningful, interpretable toxicity networks that provide valuable insight into the social dynamics of toxicity within social media.

Suggested Citation

  • Rupert Kiddle & Petter Törnberg & Damian Trilling, 2024. "Network toxicity analysis: an information-theoretic approach to studying the social dynamics of online toxicity," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 305-330, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jcsosc:v:7:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s42001-023-00239-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s42001-023-00239-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bor, Alexander & Petersen, Michael Bang, 2022. "The Psychology of Online Political Hostility: A Comprehensive, Cross-National Test of the Mismatch Hypothesis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 116(1), pages 1-18, February.
    2. J. T. Lizier & M. Prokopenko, 2010. "Differentiating information transfer and causal effect," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 73(4), pages 605-615, February.
    3. Daniele Notarmuzi & Claudio Castellano & Alessandro Flammini & Dario Mazzilli & Filippo Radicchi, 2022. "Universality, criticality and complexity of information propagation in social media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
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