19.05.15 - Reducing harassment online

Harassment in online communities is not a new phenomenon, but it is a growing one, with 40-46% of people reportedly having experienced it. Communities like reddit, one of the internet's, and the world's largest discussion forums, often have moderation teams responsible for applying self-imposed rules which govern acceptable behaviour. These rules are not always well presented, or well adhered to. Researchers from Princeton University have collaborated with the moderation team at the reddit science discussion community "r/science", to determine how the clear presentation of the expected standards, or social norms within online groups can influence user behaviour. Ben McAllister spoke to J. Nathan Matias...