A Re-Conceptualization of Online Misinformation Diffusion
Brett Bourbon, Renita Murimi

TL;DR
This paper re-conceptualizes online misinformation diffusion by framing it as gossip within social capital dynamics, offering a sociological perspective that complements traditional truth-centered models.
Contribution
It introduces a discursive grammar of gossip to better understand online misinformation spread, emphasizing social and political effects beyond truth validation.
Findings
Gossip spreads through social capital and discursive practices.
Online misinformation exhibits unique social features compared to traditional gossip.
A sociological model of gossip enhances understanding of online information dynamics.
Abstract
Online social networks facilitate the diffusion of misinformation. Some theorists construe the problem of misinformation as a problem of knowledge, hence of ignorance. This assumption leads to solutions in which misinformation (false belief) is resisted by good information (true belief). We argue that information is better understood as gossip. We believe that gossip spreads as part of an economy of social capital that has a specific discursive grammar that mimics ordinary human gossip. But there are some critical differences. These differences have immense and divisive social and political effects. If we shift our focus from the truth or falsity of information, and instead focus on the social dynamics of gossip we can more effectively respond to the challenges and dangers of online social networks. Our argument has three parts. (1) We briefly critique epistemological and…
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Taxonomy
TopicsOpinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Complex Network Analysis Techniques · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
