Behind the Comments Section: The Ethics of Digital Native News Discussions

This article examines the deliberative nature and ethical dimensions of user-generated comments in three major Spanish native digital news platforms. Drawing on Habermas’ discourse ethics, the study analyses 98,426 comments across ElDiario.es, ElEspañol.com, and ElConfidencial.com, including their Facebook and Twitter engagements. While comment sections were initially conceived as participatory spaces promoting democratic dialogue, findings suggest they largely fall short of this ideal. Most user contributions lack argumentative coherence, diverge from the news topic, and exhibit low interactivity. Despite moderate levels of incivility—mostly directed at public figures rather than fellow commenters—substantive deliberation and mutual respect are rare. Visual discourse elements such as memes and emojis emerge as significant markers of online interaction, particularly in social media environments. These patterns vary by platform, with Facebook and Twitter enabling distinct forms of engagement shaped by algorithmic moderation. The study underscores the need to reassess the civic potential of digital native comment sections and consider the implications for media credibility, public discourse, and digital citizenship. By integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, the article offers a robust framework for evaluating online deliberation and contributes to the broader literature on media ethics, digital participation, and democratic communication in the digital age.