Video Tutorials
We strongly recommend watching all three short videos below to gain a clear understanding of how topics are investigated on nlite.

Part 1: Overview

Part 2: How to Create a Topic?

Part 3: How to Interact with an Existing Topic?

Getting Started
The basics

nlite [enlight] is an online platform designed to systematically investigate controversial topics by identifying the top arguments for all sides. Getting started with the platform is straightforward. To start investigating a controversial topic, click add_circle New Topic in the top navigation bar. You will then be asked to enter a title and a short description for the topic. Initially, you can stick to the default values for all other inputs.

Once the topic page is created, users can add viewpoints to it. Typically, the person who creates the topic adds at least two opposing viewpoints. Next, they will share the URL of the page with their audience—such as a group of friends, their organization, or the general public.

The audience can then submit arguments for the listed viewpoints by clicking the Submit Argument button below each viewpoint (see the figure below). Submitted arguments will appear as yellow boxes under the respective viewpoint. The color yellow represents the goal of arguments: to enlighten society.

The platform also allows users to submit counterarguments for existing arguments using the Submit Counter button below each argument. Submitted counters will be displayed as green boxes below the respective argument. The color green reflects a friendly and good-faith attempt to highlight a point that the argument submitter might have overlooked.

Argument Ranking

The platform relies on user feedback to rank arguments submitted for each viewpoint. This feedback is provided through the Evaluate Arguments button under each viewpoint. (Each viewpoint has its own instance of this button.)

Similarly, the platform relies on user feedback to rank counters submitted to challenge presented arguments. This is done through the Evaluate Counters button found beneath each argument.

Each topic page displays a live, ranked list of the top arguments for each viewpoint, updated continuously based on the latest feedback. It also highlights the single top counter identified for each argument in real time.

The elements described here are illustrated in the sample topic page below. For more details on how the platform operates, watch the three videos above or click here.

An example topic page and its key elements
What makes nlite special?
  • Accurate Ranking Mechanism: nlite employs a randomized pairwise-comparison-based approach to rank submitted content. This method avoids the bias of traditional like and dislike buttons, where early submissions often receive disproportionate visibility and votes. In contrast, nlite's randomized approach ensures that all submitted arguments are evaluated, even those submitted late. (Learn more)
  • Concise, Well-organized Topic Pages: Topic pages are concise and well-structured making the investigation process significantly more efficient.
To learn more about nlite's philosophy and features, click here.
Typical Workflow
Helping New Users Get Started
If you've created a topic page and want to share it with an audience new to nlite, we recommend sharing the following image to help them get started quickly. (Copy image to clipboard
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Overview