2017 International Conference on Social Media & Society (#SMSociety)

Authors: Alton Chua and Snehasish Banerjee

Abstract: Rumors are known to propagate easily through computer-mediated communication channels such as Twitter. Their outbreak is often followed by the spread of counter-rumors, which are messages that debunk rumors. The likelihood of a tweet to be either a rumor or a counter-rumor is referred as tweet veracity in this paper. Since both rumors and counter-rumors are expected to contain claims, the two might not be easily distinguishable. If Internet users fail to separate rumors from counter-rumors, the latter will not serve its purpose. Hence, this paper investigates the extent to which tweet veracity could be predicted by content as well as contributors’ profile. The investigation focuses on the death hoax case of Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew on Twitter. A total of 1,000 tweets (500 rumors + 500 counter-rumors) are analyzed using binomial logistic regression. Results indicate that tweet veracity could be predicted by clarity, proper nouns, visual cues, references to credible sources as well as contributors’ duration of membership, and number of followers. The significance of these findings are highlighted.

Authors: Lea Stahel and Katja Rost

Abstract: We develop a theory explaining when commenters choose to be aggressive versus civilized in social media depending on their personal social norm context. In particular, we enrich traditional social norm theory by the concept of moral legitimacy: it suggests that justifications, particularly those that put social norm violators outside of moral boundaries, are the supplier of aggression. Using the diversity of 45’982 comments of a real-world online firestorm our results confirm that social norm contexts matter strongly for online behaviour. The developed theory challenges existing speculations about online aggression and helps to develop strategies to encourage enlightened, civilized discourse in the Internet.

Authors: Shreenita Ghosh and Ritomaitree Sarkar

Abstract: This study examines the user comments of radio talk show call-ins and the shows’ corresponding digital discussion forums comments of NPR’s show ‘OnPoint’. While both media platforms are anonymous and moderated rigorously by NPR staff, the nature and content of the comments in both are vastly different. A frequency analysis followed by critical discourse analysis of the content suggests that the percentage civility of the content in both media, when measured through Papacharissi (2004) coding scheme, is very similar. However, the study shows difference in inclusivity, variety in content and degree of incivility. The study further hints that the role of moderator, the role of screener, and lastly the difference in the location of time gap or time lag between the generation of content and the public release of content in final form may be possible reasons that contribute to the difference in nature of interaction in the two ‘faceless’ mediated discursive spaces.

Authors: Joshua Introne, Luca Iandoli, Julia Decook, Irem Gokce Yildirim and Shaimaa Elzeini

Abstract: Misinformation has found a new natural habitat in the digital age. Thousands of forums, blogs, and alternative news sources amplify inaccurate information to such a degree that it impacts our collective intelligence. Widespread misinformation is troubling not just because it is wrong, but also because it can persist in the face of attempts to correct it, becoming part of a larger culture of community-based pseudoknowledge (PK). Prior work has focused on the motivations and psychology of those who create and maintain PK but has eschewed inspection of the dynamics of collective PK production itself. In this exploratory case study, we illustrate how the active participation of multiple collaborators adapts PK over time through a process we liken to participatory storytelling. We argue that the Internet provides a uniquely well-suited environment for evolving PK that is “more fit” in that it is more engaging, easier to defend, and possibly easier to spread.