How misinformation spreads over the Internet?

The team of researchers for five years watched the activity of a wide range of Facebook users to determine which disinformation is most spread online. In their work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they note that this is due to so-called echo-cameras. It's about spaces that allow people to freely convince others of their beliefs.

Echoes control our minds

Usually echoes affect certain areas of the media, in particular the Internet. In this limited virtual space, they represent a constant, repetitive transmission of certain beliefs. Roughly speaking, certain information is imposed on people. At the same time, they do not have the opportunity to evaluate and accept other opinions, since everything that contradicts convictions preached in an echo-camera is evil. If we return to Facebook, it is as a result of such manifestations that users of the social network begin to believe in information that is clearly pointless.

What do we impose?

In order to determine the effectiveness of echoes, the researchers analyzed 67 public pages. All of them at the time of observation were on the expanses of the Facebook network. And 32 pages concerned the conspiracy theory, and 35 were related to scientific news. In the period from 2010 to 2014, researchers watched the posts posted on the site, and also analyzed the comments that users left to them. For example, on pages connected with the theory of conspiracy, there often appeared arguments that rejected consensus on the current climate change. Also popular were discussions of military exercises Jade Helm-15 - they were referred to as signs of an impending civil war.

To a separate group were assigned two pages, whose representatives conducted in some way an information war through trolling. These sites deliberately spread sarcastic and obviously false messages in order to win the attention of the audience through humor.

Spread of information

The researchers found that the ways of initial dissemination of information are the same for both scientific groups and groups related to conspiracy theory. Within two hours of publication, and again after 20 hours from the date of the response to it, the post is shared.

Nevertheless, the difference is noted in the long term. Scientific news spreads quickly enough over the network, but they also lose their relevance just as quickly. Messages on the theory of conspiracy, flood the Internet with less speed. However, while they remain a popular topic of discussion for users longer.

It is worth noting that the long-term perspective of the group's activity allows it to strengthen its echoes. Individuals or news organizations whose publications you comment on begin to affect your mind. Their new messages are increasingly flickering in your news feed, like parasites. This feature of the Internet, in which information is served to users depending on the nature of their online behavior, is a vivid manifestation of the action of echoes.

A certain conviction, whether grounded or not, begins to be recognized by the consciousness of the individual, if the surrounding society deems it acceptable. A message that contains misinformation can be extremely dangerous. The World Economic Forum called such a form of imposing thoughts a "digital fire", which is one of the main threats to human society.