New_ PublicA healthier internet isn’t just wishful thinking — our friends at the Prosocial Design Network have a whole library of research-backed design solutions for building prosocial spaces online, organized by our Civic Signals research!
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Here’s a tactic they call “validated”: prominently showing the rules or norms of a platform or online group encourages prosocial behavior.
Of the three kinds, “Community Norms & Rules” and “Platform Rules” are strongly supported by evidence.
Here’s a look at the feature best known as Community Notes. The Prosocial Design Network says it’s “convincing” that crowdsourced contextual information helps users.
However, PDN notes that a diverse group of volunteer fact-checkers is most effective, and not always guaranteed.
https://www.prosocialdesign.org/library/crowdsourcing-contextual-information-community-notes
Finally, Prosocial Design Network takes on a popular myth: that reverse chronological feeds fix everything. But in one study, they showed “no discernible effect on participant’s levels of polarization.”
https://www.prosocialdesign.org/library/reverse-chronological-feeds
The Prosocial Design Network also hosts monthly meet-ups for like-minded technologists — and this Thurs at 1pm ET, they’re featuring us! ♥️
Join New_ Public’s @clockwerks, @blaine, @and, and @samliebeskind for a virtual talk about Roundabout, our local community app!
