A George Washington University research team created a novel formula that demonstrates how, why, and when hate speech spreads throughout social media. They found that hate speech ripples through online communities in a pattern that non-hateful content typically does not follow. Researchers hope the formula can serve as a tool for moderators to project the shockwave-like spread of hateful content and develop methods to delay, divert, and prevent it from spiraling out of control.
Here is the study (trigger warning: maths): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364771702_Shockwaves_and_turbulence_across_social_media
Fascinating stuff, although I do not pretend to grok the maths.
On the one hand, seems to offer formulaic approach to creating effective interventions to curb online hate-speech. A more functional approach than hand-wringing, and more effective than “thoughts and prayers” platitudes following IRL consequences of hate-speech.
On the other hand, who decides what is undesirable hate speech? For instance, I could see both of the US abortion debate “sides” (yes, I know, there are more than two) claiming the other is wrong, is promoting hate or harm. Each side might feel itself justified seeking to intervene to prevent spread of an ideology.