Top contributors in r/conspiracy: an analysis of cross-subreddit network dynamics : master's thesis

Erends, Renée (author), Mrvar, Andrej (mentor)

The spread of conspiracy theories has led to reduced political and societal engagement, the proliferation of hate speech, and various acts of violence. Reddit’s largest conspiracy related subreddit, r/conspiracy, plays a key role in the formation and propagation of conspiracy theories, while fostering extreme political views and toxic behaviors among its users. Only a small fraction of its large membership is responsible for most of the subreddit’s content and has a disproportionate influence on its user discourse. By using social network analysis, this study has explored the activity levels, patterns, and connections of r/conspiracy’s top contributors across Reddit. Findings reveal that they are densely interconnected and are, besides r/conspiracy, most active in subreddits centered on politics and world events, rather than specific conspiracy theory related subreddits. Their other interests on Reddit are diverse but suggest a reciprocal relationship between fringe conspiratorial discussion and the mainstream media. This study provides actionable insights to strengthen intervention strategies and emphasizes the importance of targeted individual intervention and the role of volunteer moderators in mitigating the harmful conspiratorial content on Reddit and beyond.

• Language: English
• Keywords: conspiracy theories, Reddit, r/Conspiracy, Social network analysis
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: R. Erends
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (79 str.))
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167769
• UDC: 077.5:303.7(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 226157827
• Publication date in RUL: 11.03.2025

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Najbolj aktivni uporabniki na r/conspiracy: analiza dinamike na subredditskih omrežjih : magistrsko delo

Abstract

Širjenje teorij zarote je privedlo do zmanjšane politične in družbene angažiranosti, povečanja sovražnega govora in pojava različnih nasilnih dejanj. Največji podbralnik povezan s teorijami zarote (r/conspiracy) ima ključno vlogo pri njihovem oblikovanju in širjenju, hkrati pa spodbuja skrajna politična stališča in toksično vedenje uporabnikov. Kljub temu, da ima podbralnik več milijonov članov, objavlja večino vsebin le peščica uporabnikov in ima tako nesorazmeren vpliv na njegov uporabniški diskurz. V nalogi so bile z uporabo metod analize socialnih omrežij raziskane aktivnosti, vzorci in povezave glavnih uporabnikov podbralnika r/conspiracy. Ugotovili smo, da so uporabniki tega podbralnika med seboj tesno povezani in da so poleg dejavnosti v podbralniku r/conspiracy najpogosteje dejavni tudi v podbralnikih, ki se osredotočajo na politiko in dogodke po svetu, ne pa v manjših zarotniško naravnanih podbralnikih. Njihovi drugi interesi na Redditu so precej raznoliki, kažejo pa na vzajemni odnos med obrobnimi zarotniškimi razpravami in osrednjimi mediji. V magistrski nalogi so predstavljene metode za okrepitev intervencijskih strategij. Poudarek je dan usmerjenemu posredovanju posameznikov in vlogi prostovoljnih moderatorjev pri zmanjševanju škodljivih zarotniških vsebin na Redditu in drugod.

• Keywords: teorije zarote, Reddit, r/Conspiracy, Analiza družbenih omrežij