Bots reduce meaningful interactions in online communities

Bots in online communities can help connect people, but they also reduce direct human interaction. As these automated agents become more frequent, they change the way users communicate. Research focused on the social networks of Reddit communities from 2005 to 2019 found that when reflexive bots post more, human users connect with a wider range of people. However, this increase in bot activity often leads to less meaningful dialogue among users. Instead of engaging in discussions, users are more likely to receive responses from bots. Supervisory bots were also studied. They have more control over community moderation and can manage posts and users. Interestingly, communities with these bots show less centralization. Important members become less connected because the bots take on some of the roles that these humans previously held. Bots can analyze and respond to many posts quickly, but their rigid programming limits interaction. As generative AI technology improves, even more sophisticated bots could emerge, increasing engagement but possibly further hindering human conversation. It is crucial for community users and moderators to understand these effects as they adjust to the growing presence of bots. Future research will need to explore how advanced bots impact interactions and moderation in online spaces.