Multi-layer network analysis of deliberation in an online discussion platform: the case of Reddit

TL;DR

This study introduces a multi-layer network model to analyze deliberation in Reddit discussions, revealing differences across subreddits and common network features.

Contribution

It proposes a novel multi-layer network framework and metrics to quantify deliberation in online discussions, applied to a large Reddit dataset.

Findings

Subreddits based on geography or sports show higher deliberation levels.

Discussion networks exhibit small-world properties across all subreddits.

Similar patterns of highly active users are observed across different communities.

Abstract

This paper uses a multi-layer network model to study deliberation in online discussion platforms, focusing on the Reddit platform. The model comprises two layers: a discussion layer, which represents the comment-to-comment replies as a hierarchical tree, and an actor layer, which represent the actor-to-actor reply interactions. The interlayer links represent user-comment ownership. We further propose several different network metrics to characterise the level of deliberation in discussion threads, and apply the model and metrics to a large Reddit dataset containing posts from 72 subreddits focused on different topics. We compare the level of deliberation that occurs on different subreddits, finding that subreddits that are based on geographical regions or focus on sports have the highest levels of deliberation. Analysis of the actor layer reveals several features consistent across all subreddits, such as small-world characteristics and similar numbers of highly active users.