This new study uses old data, but it gives at least some hope that comment sections might not always be as awful as the reporters writing the stories above them think.
The BBC is on WhatsApp, WeChat, BBM, and Mxit, doing reporting and reaching new audiences. Can news organizations scale chat apps up from one-to-one to one-to-many?
Ellis, Justin. "BuzzFeed brings its community front and center." Nieman Journalism Lab. Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, 8 May. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2025.
APA
Ellis, J. (2013, May. 8). BuzzFeed brings its community front and center. Nieman Journalism Lab. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from https://www.niemanlab.org/2013/05/buzzfeed-brings-its-community-front-and-center/
Chicago
Ellis, Justin. "BuzzFeed brings its community front and center." Nieman Journalism Lab. Last modified May 8, 2013. Accessed February 13, 2025. https://www.niemanlab.org/2013/05/buzzfeed-brings-its-community-front-and-center/.
Wikipedia
{{cite web
| url = https://www.niemanlab.org/2013/05/buzzfeed-brings-its-community-front-and-center/
| title = BuzzFeed brings its community front and center
| last = Ellis
| first = Justin
| work = [[Nieman Journalism Lab]]
| date = 8 May 2013
| accessdate = 13 February 2025
| ref = {{harvid|Ellis|2013}}
}}