Sharing Fake News about Brands on Social Media: a New Conceptual Model Based on Flow Theory

The growing importance of Social Networking Sites (SNS) in today's information economy has generated significant interest for understanding and managing shared fake news about brands on social media among academia and industry worldwide. In this context, we consider it is important to discuss the role of flow, also called optimal experience, in sharing fake news about brands on social media. Firstly, we will critically analyze the conceptualizations of the umbrella term „fake news‟ in the so-called „post-truth‟ era and assume a narrow definition from literature. Secondly, we will review different theories from literature (i.e., selective exposure theory, uses and gratifications theory, social comparison theory, rational choice theory and self- determination theory) in order to explain why users share fake news. Furthermore, we will refer to flow theory proposed by Csikszentmihalyi (1975), which could be used as a framework to better the understanding of the user‟s behavior regarding the sharing of fake news about brands on social media. Flow is a hedonistic construct whose importance is widely recognized as having a major impact on the user's behavior in relation to information systems. According to Csikszentmihalyi (1975, 1988), flow is a “crucial component of enjoyment” and is “the holistic sensation that people feel when they act with total involvement”. In a flow state, the consumer perceives an effortless action, loss of time and a sense that the experience stands out as being exceptional compared to daily activities (Csikszentmihalyi 1997). Flow is a continuous variable that can occur on different levels, ranging from none to an intense (or complete) state (Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi 1988). Flow experience has been studied as an independent variable, as a dependent variable, and lately, as a mediator variable. In this paper we propose a new conceptual model containing 3 variables: (1) fake news spread about brands in SNS, (2) flow state experienced by SNS human users (i.e., optimal experience) and (3) sharing fake news about brands on social media by SNS human users (i.e., social media behavior). We conclude by outlining the need to empirically test the new conceptual model proposed in this paper

Fake News in the era of online intentional misinformation ; a review of existing approaches

Διπλωματική εργασία--Πανεπιστήμιο Μακεδονίας, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2019.Fake news is probably one of the most discussed issues of the past years. The term has acquired greater legitimacy after being named the word of the year by Collins Dictionary, following what the dictionary called its “ubiquitous presence” over the year 2017. However, the fake news issue has not been yet deeply researched. Therefore, in this thesis, definitions by the literature about the term “fake news” are gathered and through them, specific characteristics and criteria are extracted in order to verify the exact elements of false news and intentional misinformation in general. This study aims to identify eventually as thoroughly as possible what fake news is and what is not. For that purpose, through qualitative research, the total features of the term are exhibited and analyzed concluding in the classification of characteristics most of the fake news incidents present. Following the proposed feature identification is examined through specific fake news case studies. Finally, after understanding deeper and verifying specific characteristics that appear on the nature of fake news detection and mitigation actions are proposed, demonstrating the need for technological development on the issue and educational evolution on digital skills of the public, accomplishing an inclusive review of a less studied term, such as the fake news. At last conclusions are presented leading to the main remark of the current thesis, namely the need for further quantitative and statistical research as much as deeper theoretical study, to better decipher the issue of fake news and thus resolve it

Democracy and Fake News

This book explores the challenges that disinformation, fake news, and post-truth politics pose to democracy from a multidisciplinary perspective. The authors analyse and interpret how the use of technology and social media as well as the emergence of new political narratives has been progressively changing the information landscape, undermining some of the pillars of democracy. The volume sheds light on some topical questions connected to fake news, thereby contributing to a fuller understanding of its impact on democracy. In the Introduction, the editors offer some orientating definitions of post-truth politics, building a theoretical framework where various different aspects of fake news can be understood. The book is then divided into three parts: Part I helps to contextualise the phenomena investigated, offering definitions and discussing key concepts as well as aspects linked to the manipulation of information systems, especially considering its reverberation on democracy. Part II considers the phenomena of disinformation, fake news, and post-truth politics in the context of Russia, which emerges as a laboratory where the phases of creation and diffusion of fake news can be broken down and analysed; consequently, Part II also reflects on the ways to counteract disinformation and fake news. Part III moves from case studies in Western and Central Europe to reflect on the methodological difficulty of investigating disinformation, as well as tackling the very delicate question of detection, combat, and prevention of fake news. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of political science, law, political philosophy, journalism, media studies, and computer science, since it provides a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of post-truth politics

Democracy and Fake News

This book explores the challenges that disinformation, fake news, and post-truth politics pose to democracy from a multidisciplinary perspective. The authors analyse and interpret how the use of technology and social media as well as the emergence of new political narratives has been progressively changing the information landscape, undermining some of the pillars of democracy. The volume sheds light on some topical questions connected to fake news, thereby contributing to a fuller understanding of its impact on democracy. In the Introduction, the editors offer some orientating definitions of post-truth politics, building a theoretical framework where various different aspects of fake news can be understood. The book is then divided into three parts: Part I helps to contextualise the phenomena investigated, offering definitions and discussing key concepts as well as aspects linked to the manipulation of information systems, especially considering its reverberation on democracy. Part II considers the phenomena of disinformation, fake news, and post-truth politics in the context of Russia, which emerges as a laboratory where the phases of creation and diffusion of fake news can be broken down and analysed; consequently, Part II also reflects on the ways to counteract disinformation and fake news. Part III moves from case studies in Western and Central Europe to reflect on the methodological difficulty of investigating disinformation, as well as tackling the very delicate question of detection, combat, and prevention of fake news. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of political science, law, political philosophy, journalism, media studies, and computer science, since it provides a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of post-truth politics

Facebook Fake Profile Identification: Technical and Ethical Considerations

March 2019, Facebook updated its security procedures requesting ID verification for people who wish to advertise or promote political posts of adverts. The announcement received little media coverage even though it is an interesting development in the battle against Fake News. This paper reviews the current literature on different approaches in the battle against the spread of fake news, including the use of computer algorithms, A.I, and introduction of ID checks. Critical to the evaluation is consideration into ID checks as a means to combat the spread of Fake News. To understand the process and how it works, the team undertook a social experiment combined with reflective analysis to better understand the impact of ID check policies when combined with other standards policies of a typical platform. The analysis identifies grave concerns. In a wider context, standardising such policy will leave political activists in countries vulnerable to reprisal from authoritarian regimes. Other impacts include people who use fake names to protect the identity of adopted children or to protect anonymity from abusive partners. The analysis also points to the fact that troll arms could bypass these checks rendering the use of ID checks less effective in the battle to combat fake news. The analysis also points to the fact that troll arms could bypass these checks rendering the use of ID checks less effective in the battle to combat fake news

Novel weapons: the invasion of fake news and the evolution of political news ecosystems

In this dissertation, I work to answer the question: how are recent attempts to insert fake news into political news ecosystems similar to and different from previous attempts? To this end, I present a historical timeline of major technological shifts that have altered political news ecosystems, create a new framework for analyzing how fake news producers use social media as a novel weapon to help fake news invade and thrive within political news ecosystems, and develop new terminology to discuss large-scale trolling tactics used to disrupt political news ecosystems. To develop the novel weapons framework for this study, I first identify and then examine three aspects of social media that are reappropriated to transform it into a novel weapon: hashtags, bots, and trolling. Then, I unpack how fake news producers and disseminators leveraged hashtags, bots, and trolling in tandem to create more complex systems that were able to introduce and disseminate fake news that went relatively unnoticed by the general public. From here, I enact this framework, applying it to the fake news surrounding the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. In doing so, I demonstrate that the novel weapons framework is easily applicable and able to provide an analytical depiction not only of the initial infiltration of fake news into a political news ecosystem but also the tactics that are used to help it thrive. My recalibration of the novel weapons framework aims to expand ecology theory in the field of Rhetoric and Composition by adapting invasive species theory and the novel weapons hypothesis to create a lens through which we can analyze how new actors or agents enter and manipulate digital ecologies. However, rather than focus on individual actors circulating fake news, this framework allows us to identify and focus on the systemic and ecological invasion of fake news.. Additionally, this framework provides a historical lens with which one can observe or analyze how the invasive species’ role or relationship with the ecosystem fluctuates over time. Lastly, through the development of the novel weapons framework, I developed new terminology in order to differentiate between the umbrella term of troll and the large entities that use trolling tactics for much higher stakes. In this dissertation, such bad actors and tactics are referred to as organized, agenda-driven, strategic trolls or OASTs. By separating entities like foreign governments and politically affiliated organizations that use trolling tactics from the colloquial term troll, I also separates them from the stereotypes and cultural frameworks that view trolls as minimal threats, annoyances, singular people, or subversive tactics to oppressive and bigoted language and ideologies. Creating this distinction allows us to focus on the more complex levels and higher stakes that are involved when dealing with OASTs. This new terminology now fits the impact that these entities can create. Overall, then, this dissertation develops a new framework for studying and analyzing fake news, the expansion of terminology when discussing trolls, and the practical application of the novel weapons framework.Thesis (Ph. D.

Extremism, fake news and hate: effects of social media in the post-truth era

This thesis examines the utilization of social media platforms (particularly Facebook & Twitter) by political actors, contemporary media, and ordinary people to disseminate false or misleading information. Furthermore, it examines how social media have aided in the mobilization of previously unpopular extremist social/political movements in the US. This research provides a rich historical account of news media and its dissemination technology. Additionally, the thesis looks to several theories to show that these events are best understood as examples of larger processes endemic to modern capitalist societies. Utilizing news media and archival records to create event catalogs, this research illustrates how fake news spreads though social media using three distinct events, the birther conspiracy, the pizzagate conspiracy, and a Russian attempt to sow discord in US politics. Finally, this research shows how several virtual “imagined communities” utilized social media to mobilize physically in one of the largest white nationalist rallies in recent memory. In contrast to similar works, this thesis demonstrates how social media in conjunction with alternative media have created competing knowledges defined by political discourses that now routinely conflict in profound ways