Anonymity and Inhibition in Newspaper Comments

Newspaper comment sections allow readers to voice their opinion on a wide range of topics, provide feedback for journalists and editors may enable public debate. Comment have been criticized as medium toxic comments. Such behavior in has attributed the effect anonymity. Several studies found relationship between anonymity comments, based laboratory conditions or comparison comments from different sites platforms. The current study uses real-world data sampled Washington Post New York Times, where anonymous non-anonymous users same articles. This sampling strategy decreases possibility interfering variables, ensuring that any observed differences two groups can be explained by A small but significant was found, though effects both newspaper direction were stronger. While it is true commenters write fewer we many directed at others than article author original article. indicate way restrict while allowing anonymity, restricting reference others, e.g., enforcing writers focus topic.