Measuring Polarization in Online Debates

Social networks can be a very successful tool to engage users discuss relevant topics for society. However, there are also some dangers that associated with them, such as the emergence of polarization in online discussions. Recently, has been growing interest try understand this phenomenon, consider harmful concerning building healthy society which citizens get used polite discussions and even listening opinions may different from theirs. In work, we face problem defining precise measure quantify meaningful way level present an discussion. We focus on Reddit social network, given its primary is foster discussions, contrast other have uses. Our based two characteristics discussion: existence balanced bipartition discussion, where one partition contains mainly agreement (regarding topic discussion) disagreement, degree negativity sentiment interactions between these groups users. how affect value our measure, finally perform empirical evaluation over sets about diverse classes topics. results seem indicate capture differences further understood when analyzing values factors define measure.