The Grainger College of Engineering

Illinois Quantum Information Science & Technology Center

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Tracking and Network Analysis of the Spread of Misinformation Regarding COVID-19

Event Type
Lecture
Sponsor
Center for Advanced Study
Virtual
wifi event
Date
Sep 30, 2021   3:00 pm   4:30 PM
Contact
Center for Advanced Study
E-Mail
cas@illinois,edu
Views
35
Originating Calendar
Center for Advanced Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some of the social and cultural flaws in our ability to communicate about vital issues of public health. In this presentation we examine how COVID-19 misinformation has spread and the effectiveness of different social media platforms in combating it. We provide an overview of the history of facts-checking directed toward the COVID-19 pandemic, and then discuss theoretical reasons, from behavioral science and social psychology, explaining why labeling social media misinformation may or may not work as a mitigation strategy. We then discuss our own analysis of the effectiveness of misinformation labeling by Facebook and Twitter, with some surprising results. Finally, we discuss a broader research and development program designed to expand social media research, increase the potential for labeling misinformation on social media sites, and the effects these activities might have on the entire social media ecosystem.

About the Presenters:

KEVIN LEICHT
Professor of Sociology | VISIT WEBSITE
 
BRANT HOUSTON
Knight Chair Professor in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting, Journalism | VISIT WEBSITE
 
JOSEPH T. YUN
Research Assistant Professor of Accountancy | VISIT WEBSITE
 
LORETTA AUVIL
Senior Project Coordinator, Industry Program, NCSA
EAMON BRACHT
PhD candidate, Informatics Programs | VISIT WEBSITE
 
 
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