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About this paper
Aleksandar Tomašević, Ana Vranić, Aleksandra Alorić, Marija Mitrović Dankulov
This study examines the systemic impact of Reddit's deplatforming events on existing generalist communities on Voat, revealing how mass user migrations led to a doubling of toxicity and profound structural changes. It identifies two distinct regimes of community transformation, driven primarily by the sheer volume of new users participating at the periphery rather than by capturing central influential positions.
Key insights
- Deplatforming externalizes costs, causing profound and often overlooked structural transformations and increased toxicity within generalist communities on receiving platforms.
- Community transformation unfolds in two distinct regimes: an initial 'Hostile Takeover Through Volume' characterized by segregation and escalating toxicity, followed by a 'Toxic Equilibrium Through Integration' where new toxic norms become stable.
- Fundamental community change is driven by 'peripheral dynamics' – the sheer volume of newcomer participation – rather than new arrivals capturing central 'hub' positions, challenging traditional views on influential users.
Summary by alphaXiv.
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