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There's something I've wondered about but I haven't seen addressed in your posts (I may have missed it): It seemed to me that in 2016 there were much more poli
by LukeShu 6y ago
There's something I've wondered about but I haven't seen addressed in your posts (I may have missed it):
It seemed to me that in 2016 there were much more political news posts that I'd have said violated the "If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic" guideline than there were in 2020. Is that difference because of a change in moderation policy? Or is it because a change in user behavior, where users are posting political articles less fervently?
Or is this just selection bias on my part?
- Sebb767 6y agoI have the same feeling; it seems the 2020 election fight was far less intense than the 2016 one - but it might just be me being less on Reddit. One very important factor is COVID, though - a lot of headlines simply focus on everything surrounding it; it steals the spotlight quite well, which would otherwise be on politics.
- Fnoord 6y ago> it steals the spotlight quite well, which would otherwise be on politics. Or another one issue which is deemed of high importance (terrorism, for example).
- rchaud 6y agoMy deeply unscientific opinion on the cause of the difference between the 2016 and 2020 election discussions on Reddit: - As you said, concern about Covid diluted the vitriol in a lot of political threads - In 2016, t_d was in ascendancy, and its members would flood other subreddits with their talking points. After that, sub moderators established stronger anti-brigading rules. In 2020, t_d was either banned or made private, I forget which. - A lot of the highly charged flash points of 2016 were no longer that relevant in 2020: Syrian refugees, trans bathrooms, 'identity politics' - 2016 also had 2 polarizing candidates. In 2020 only one was still looked at that way.
- dang 6y agoI'm guessing it's selection bias on your part, but that may be selection bias on my part.