Detecting misinformation in online social networks: A think-aloud study on user strategies

Isabelle Freiling

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2019-4-471

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 431–445 EDITORIAL 431–445
  - Countering misinformation: Strategies, challenges, and uncertainties Christina Peter, Thomas Koch Christina Peter, Thomas Koch
- 446–546 FULL PAPER 446–546
  - 446–470 Doubters are more convincing than advocates. The impact of user comments and ratings on credibility perceptions of false news stories on social media Jan P . Kluck, Leonie Schaewitz, Nicole C . Krämer Jan P . Kluck, Leonie Schaewitz, Nicole C . Krämer 446–470
  - 471–496 Detecting misinformation in online social networks: A think-aloud study on user strategies Isabelle Freiling Isabelle Freiling 471–496
  - 497–522 Nothing’s gonna change my world – Or do journalistic clarifications help against rumors? Johanna Radechovsky, Priscila Berger, Jens Wolling Johanna Radechovsky, Priscila Berger, Jens Wolling 497–522
  - 523–546 Susceptibility to mis- and disinformation and the effectiveness of fact-checkers: Can misinformation be effectively combated? Michael Hameleers Michael Hameleers 523–546
- 547–559 RESEARCH-IN-BRIEF 547–559
  - Facebook or Fakebook? How users’ perceptions of ‘fake news’ are related to their evaluation and verification of news on Facebook Philipp Müller, Anne Schulz Philipp Müller, Anne Schulz
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY Access

SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 471 - 496

Detecting misinformation in online social networks: A think-aloud study on user strategies

Autoren

Isabelle Freiling

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2019-4-471
- ISSN: 2192-4007
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

Although online social networks (OSN) facilitate the distribution of misinformation, one way of reducing the spread of false information in OSN is for users to detect it. Building on the framework of how audiences act to authenticate information, this study provides a user perspective on which strategies people use in evaluating information in OSN. In 15 qualitative interviews, participants were asked to think aloud while evaluating whether the content of posts from their own newsfeeds and of interviewer-supplied posts was true or false. Their answers were analyzed to determine which evaluation strategies they used. Analyzing participants’ thoughts as they evaluate information is more reliable than directly asking participants which strategies they think they use. Results show that users’ strategies in information evaluation are searching for more information, knowledge of account or content carries the most weight, and every detail needs to fit. A comparison of strategy usage for posts from befriended versus unknown personal accounts as well as for posts from followed news outlets versus not followed news outlets shows that for posts from followed news outlets, knowledge of the account was the most-used strategy followed by knowledge of the content. For other types of posts, strategy usage varied more widely and depended on each post. This highlights the importance and possible higher ecological validity of research on posts from news outlets that users actually follow, as users’ experiences with previous posts seem to play a major role in how they go about evaluating information in new posts.
Share