Reputation matters the most: The reputation inertia effect

“Reputation systems” are widely used in a high number of web‐based services to enhance cooperation among users, as well as to ensure they function well. However, the acquired reputation within such systems does not always reflect people's actual behavior. Consequently, this bias can reduce the effectiveness and robustness of a web‐based system. The present study investigates the mechanisms with which reputation is built in an online multiplayer game. The reputation, once acquired, seems to be maintained over time (i.e., reputation inertia effect) despite the actual behavior of its owner. Moreover, if the players are asked to pay to suggest to the other players, the reputation inertia effect decreases. Nevertheless, even if reduced in frequency, “reputation inertia” persists under this condition.