Social network more important than language in online debates: Study

NEW YORK: Want to win an argument online? Bolstering your social network may be more helpful than persuasive arguments or witty comebacks, a study has found.

Researchers from Cornell University in the US analysed data from a website that hosts debates on a variety of topics. Users can debate each other, comment on other debates, ask and answer questions, create and respond to polls, and become friends.

The study found that social interactions are more important than language in predicting who is going to succeed at online debating.