my hunch is this must be true, but i never heard anyone say it:

the fediverse has a toxicity problem specifically because it also has higher engagement, toxicity follows from engagement

imo a lot of the toxic people aren’t trolls per se, or at least not how we normally imagine them. but rather just people who can’t keep their trap shut. i.e. people who wouldn’t speak in a lower engagement space but do here because it seems to invite engagement and involvement