Is offensive commenting contagious online? Examining public vs interpersonal swearing in response to Donald Trump’s YouTube campaign videos

What is it about?

Offensive commenting has become an undesirable but characteristic parts of the Internet culture. We examined and provide an evidence that offensive commenting is not simply due to an individual's disinhibited behavior but contagious by the exposure to, and interaction with others.

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Why is it important?

Incivility, and hate speech have become important policy issues surrounding the Internet. The empirical evidence of this paper will have managerial and policy implications on improving the democratic function of the Internet.