Uncivil User Comments Increase Users’ Intention to Engage in Corrective Actions and Their Support for Authoritative Restrictive Actions

Abstract

In an experimental study ( n = 213), we vary the incivility of a user comment below a mock news post on the Facebook page of a German news outlet. We investigate determinants of the users’ intention to engage in corrective actions and their support for restrictions by Facebook and law enforcement. We test an integrated model and find that incivility of a comment affects users’ support for restrictive and intention for corrective actions, whereas the presumed influence of the comment does not have an effect. The users’ commitment to free speech decreases and paternalism increases their support for authoritative restrictions.

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