Twitter teams up with researchers to crack down on abusive content

Twitter is teaming up with academic researchers on ways to cut down on abusive content and harassment on its platform.

The company said Monday that it is partnering with two groups of academic researchers. They will help measure the “health” of conversations on the platform.

One of the teams, led by Dr. Rebekah Tromble, assistant professor of political science at Leiden University, will examine how echo chambers form on Twitter and the difference between “incivility” and “intolerance” on the platform.

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The other team, composed of researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Amsterdam, will explore “how exposure to a variety of perspectives and backgrounds can decrease prejudice and discrimination.”

Twitter picked those two teams after calling for proposals earlier this year on ways to improve its platform.

Social media and internet platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, have faced increased criticism in recent years for not doing enough to crack down on abusive content.

Some critics have singled out Twitter for not doing enough to stop abuse and harassment.

Twitter and its CEO Jack Dorsey have said that they’re aware of the problem and committed to improving Twitter’s often toxic environment.