Engagement and profile of users who comment online science and health news: a case study
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Cristina González-Pedraz
cgonzalez@3cin.org
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Ana Victoria Pérez-Rodríguez
anavic@3cin.org
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https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-48672019000100101Abstract
The news receiver has become a main player in the online environment. He is now able to participate in them by making comments, amplifying or sharing news. The present case study analyzes the type of participation and the profile of the users who make comments to online news on scientific-health issues. Content analysis is applied to 2970 comments collected in news about the relationship between red and processed meats and cancer published in the Spanish-language newspaper with the largest audience on the Internet, elpais.com, between October 26, 2015 and February 1, 2018.
First, the participation generated by this news is quantified from the functions 'Like' and ‘Dislike‘, responses to comments and multimedia elements provided. Second, the profile of the commentator is outlined - anonymity, gender, affiliation and advertising use. Third, it is analyzed if two aspects of the profile -anonymity and sex- are related with the emission of uncivil comments, the transmission of stereotypes and the scientific contestation.
The results suggest that first comments and the 'Like' or ‘Dislike‘ buttons generate a kind of "calling effect" or "imitation effect" that incites participation. There is a profile 'type' of commentator: a user who frequently comments on that media under a pseudonym. Finally, anonymity is used to make uncivil comments and to transmit stereotypes.
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