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Bak-Coleman JB, Kennedy I, Wack M, Beers A, Schafer JS, Spiro ES, Starbird K, West JD. Combining interventions to reduce the spread of viral misinformation. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1372-1380. [PMID: 35739250 PMCID: PMC9584817 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01388-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Misinformation online poses a range of threats, from subverting democratic processes to undermining public health measures. Proposed solutions range from encouraging more selective sharing by individuals to removing false content and accounts that create or promote it. Here we provide a framework to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing viral misinformation online both in isolation and when used in combination. We begin by deriving a generative model of viral misinformation spread, inspired by research on infectious disease. By applying this model to a large corpus (10.5 million tweets) of misinformation events that occurred during the 2020 US election, we reveal that commonly proposed interventions are unlikely to be effective in isolation. However, our framework demonstrates that a combined approach can achieve a substantial reduction in the prevalence of misinformation. Our results highlight a practical path forward as misinformation online continues to threaten vaccination efforts, equity and democratic processes around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B Bak-Coleman
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- The Information School, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Ian Kennedy
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Morgan Wack
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Political Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Beers
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph S Schafer
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emma S Spiro
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- The Information School, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kate Starbird
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Human Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jevin D West
- Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- The Information School, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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