Dynamics of misinformation

The spread of misinformation continues to adversely affect our society. In recent years, we have seen misinformation promote vaccine hesitancy amid a pandemic and question the fundamentals of our democratic processes. On social media, misinformation is often linked to the viral propagation of problematic content, usually spread mistakenly. When created deliberately by agents motivated to harm, power or money, it is known as disinformation. We denote misinformation and disinformation as problematic content; however, we have broadened our investigative remit to include disputed information which pollutes the information environment. At times, traditional media covers such content, and the content appears as endorsed by authoritative sources and is amplified further on social media through a reinforcing loop. Beyond the influence of the platform business models and algorithmic filtering, which have been shown to increase the visibility of problematic content, the flow between traditional and social media is a primary factor that significantly increases its reach and harm. 

This cross disciplinary project was funded under the UTS Cross Faculty Collaboration Scheme.

The research team includes First Draft APAC Director Anne Kruger and Bureau Editor Esther Chan, Co-Directors Monica Attard and Derek Wilding, along with Amelia Johns and Francesco Bailo from FASS Digital Social Media and project leader Marian-Andrei Rizoiu  from FEIT.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.