this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2025
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Technology

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A few people are ruining the internet for the rest of us (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 4 days ago by Powderhorn@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
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I can't abide an unnecessary question hed.

When I scroll through social media, I often leave demoralized, with the sense that the entire world is on fire and people are inflamed with hatred towards one another. Yet, when I step outside into the streets of New York City to grab a coffee or meet a friend for lunch, it feels downright tranquil. The contrast between the online world and my daily reality has only gotten more jarring.

Since my own work is focused on topics such as intergroup conflict, misinformation, technology and climate change, I’m aware of the many challenges facing humanity. Yet, it seems striking that people online seem to be just as furious about the finale of The White Lotus or the latest scandal involving a YouTuber. Everything is either the best thing ever or the absolute worst, no matter how trivial. Is that really what most of us are feeling? No, as it turns out. Our latest research suggests that what we’re seeing online is a warped image created by a very small group of highly active users.

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[–] PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)
  1. At least on Lemmy, this is definitely what I've observed. If you look at any thread that's full of sturm und drang, it's usually a tiny handful of accounts that are creating all of it (and then roping other people into their hostility, like a little chain reaction, like Chernobyl.) If you look at the impact, it just looks like everyone's an asshole, but if you look at the root of the trouble, you realize most people are fine and a tiny minority are noisy and hostile and they can just get everyone else spun up.
  2. I agree, if you're in NYC right at this moment in history and you can't see a bigger picture of things worth getting heated up about than White Lotus, you should talk with people in your community more.