Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation?

Xinran Chen; Sei Ching Joanna Sin; Yin Leng Theng; Chei Sian Lee

doi:10.1145/2756406.2756941

Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation?

Xinran Chen, Sei Ching Joanna Sin, Yin Leng Theng, Chei Sian Lee

Nanyang Technological University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Widespread misinformation on social media is a cause of concern. Currently, it is unclear what factors prompt regular social media users with no malicious intent to forward misinformation to their online networks. Using a questionnaire informed by the Uses and Gratifications theory and the literature on rumor research, this study asked university students in Singapore why they shared misinformation on social media. Gender differences were also tested. The study found that perceived information characteristics such as its ability to spark conversations and its catchiness were top factors. Self-expression and socializing motivations were also among the top reasons. Women reported a higher prevalence of misinformation sharing. The implications for the design of social media applications and information literacy training were discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	JCDL 2015 - Proceedings of the 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	111-114
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450335942
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/2756406.2756941
Publication status	Published - Jun 21 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, JCDL 2015 - Knoxville, United States Duration: Jun 21 2015 → Jun 25 2015

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries
Volume	2015-June
ISSN (Print)	1552-5996

Conference

Conference	15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, JCDL 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	Knoxville
Period	6/21/15 → 6/25/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 ACM.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

General Engineering

Keywords

perceived information characteristics
sharing of misinformation
social media
uses & gratifications

Access to Document

10.1145/2756406.2756941

Cite this

Chen, X., Sin, S. C. J., Theng, Y. L., & Lee, C. S. (2015). Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation? In JCDL 2015 - Proceedings of the 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (pp. 111-114). (Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries; Vol. 2015-June). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1145/2756406.2756941

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title = "Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation?",

abstract = "Widespread misinformation on social media is a cause of concern. Currently, it is unclear what factors prompt regular social media users with no malicious intent to forward misinformation to their online networks. Using a questionnaire informed by the Uses and Gratifications theory and the literature on rumor research, this study asked university students in Singapore why they shared misinformation on social media. Gender differences were also tested. The study found that perceived information characteristics such as its ability to spark conversations and its catchiness were top factors. Self-expression and socializing motivations were also among the top reasons. Women reported a higher prevalence of misinformation sharing. The implications for the design of social media applications and information literacy training were discussed.",

keywords = "perceived information characteristics, sharing of misinformation, social media, uses & gratifications",

author = "Xinran Chen and Sin, {Sei Ching Joanna} and Theng, {Yin Leng} and Lee, {Chei Sian}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 ACM.; 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, JCDL 2015 ; Conference date: 21-06-2015 Through 25-06-2015",

year = "2015",

month = jun,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1145/2756406.2756941",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries",

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Chen, X, Sin, SCJ , Theng, YL & Lee, CS 2015, Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation? in JCDL 2015 - Proceedings of the 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries. Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, vol. 2015-June, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 111-114, 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, JCDL 2015, Knoxville, United States, 6/21/15. https://doi.org/10.1145/2756406.2756941

Why Do Social Media Users Share Misinformation? / Chen, Xinran; Sin, Sei Ching Joanna ; Theng, Yin Leng et al.
JCDL 2015 - Proceedings of the 15th ACM/IEEE-CE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. p. 111-114 (Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries; Vol. 2015-June).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution