Online Communication on Decentralized Social Media Platforms

Project Description

Decentralized social media platforms represent a fundamental shift from traditional, centralized networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Platforms like Mastodon operate through federated architectures composed of independent yet interconnected servers (“instances”), enabling greater user autonomy, data privacy, and community-driven governance.

This project investigates how decentralized structures shape online communication. In contrast to centralized platforms, where moderation and information flow are controlled by a single entity, decentralized platforms exhibit heterogeneous moderation practices and fragmented network structures. These differences raise important questions about how communities form, interact, and evolve across instances.

The project focuses on three main aspects. First, it examines community formation and interaction dynamics across decentralized instances. Second, it analyzes the mechanisms of information dissemination and virality in federated environments. Third, it explores the role of identity, pseudonymity, and anonymity in shaping user behavior, discourse quality, and engagement. By studying these dimensions, the research project aims to provide a deeper understanding of communication patterns and social dynamics in decentralized online environments.

Collaborators

• Sijia Ma (Tilburg University)
• Giulia Sturlese (Leiden University)
• Seeun Kim (Tilburg University)

Research Papers

• Decentralized Diffusion: Decomposing Information Cascades in Federated Social Networks
  Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM), 2026. (Upcoming)
  Li Zeng, Sijia Ma, Seeun Kim, and Giulia Sturlese.

• Real Name, Real Face, Real Talk? Anonymity and Toxicity on Mastodon
  ICWSM Workshop, 2025.
  Krzysztof Wójcik, Li Zeng, and Sijia Ma.

• Sentiment Dynamics and Shifts across Instances on Mastodon
  ICWSM Workshop, 2025.
  Seeun Kim, Li Zeng, Sijia Ma, and Giulia Sturlese.