Combining interventions to reduce the spread of viral misinformation

Joseph B. Bak-Coleman (), Ian Kennedy, Morgan Wack, Andrew Beers, Joseph S. Schafer, Emma S. Spiro, Kate Starbird and Jevin D. West
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Joseph B. Bak-Coleman: University of Washington
Ian Kennedy: University of Washington
Morgan Wack: University of Washington
Andrew Beers: University of Washington
Joseph S. Schafer: University of Washington
Emma S. Spiro: University of Washington
Kate Starbird: University of Washington
Jevin D. West: University of Washington

Nature Human Behaviour, 2022, vol. 6, issue 10, 1372-1380

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01388-6

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