New model maps how social media users repeatedly spread misinformation
People who receive information on social media play a greater role in the spread of misinformation than research has acknowledged, according to research published in the International Journal of Enterprise Network Management. The researchers argue that efforts to tackle "fake news" should focus as much on why users share false information as on identifying those who create misleading content.
The work combined a review of evidence on the trust and beliefs that influence misinformation sharing and an unsupervised machine-learning analysis of user behavior. The researchers could thus develop a conceptual model to help users recognize and respond more effectively to putatively false information. The model also identified behavioral patterns associated with users who repeatedly share misinformation.
The work addresses what the authors describe as a gap in misinformation research, which has focused on the origin of fake news and the structure of online networks, rather than the decisions made by those seeing and sharing this content.
The findings have particular relevance during emergencies, when social media often becomes a primary source of information. The researchers say the findings could be used to improve social media platform policies, help develop media literacy programs, fact-checking initiatives and moderation systems aimed at reducing the circulation of misleading information, and improve public trust in information shared online.
More information
Sridevi Periaiya et al, Decoding user behaviour: identifying user's prone to misinformation sharing on social media during disasters, International Journal of Enterprise Network Management (2026). DOI: 10.1504/ijenm.2026.154801
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Citation: New model maps how social media users repeatedly spread misinformation (2026, July 25) retrieved 25 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-social-media-users-misinformation.html
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