From spreading views to passing time: Why we argue online

This week, Spotify announced that it would take steps to counter the spread of misinformation about COVID -19, a topic for which it had come under fire due to comments by its star exclusive podcaster Joe Rogan and his anti-vaccination guests. The backlash included Neil Young pulling his music from the popular streaming service (and perhaps retreating to his Pono player), with fellow ‘60s icon Joni Mitchell following and the podcast host aspiring to offer more (fair and) balanced coverage.

Men were considerably more likely than women to say that they argued because they enjoyed the debate, but also because they sought to convince the other person or spectators.

While vaccines have long been a topic of debate, COVID brought what was previously a sideline anti-vaccine discussion into the eye of the disinformation storm, making it an online debate hotspot. But who steps into the digital verbal boxing ring and why? And what should content sites do about heated discourse?