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Systematic Review of Misinformation in Social and Online Media for the Development of an Analytical Framework for Agri-Food Sector

Author

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  • Ataharul Chowdhury

    (School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

  • Khondokar H. Kabir

    (School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
    Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh)

  • Abdul-Rahim Abdulai

    (Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

  • Md Firoze Alam

    (School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

Abstract

The ubiquity of social and online media networks, the credulousness of online communities, coupled with limited accountability pose a risk of mis-, dis-, mal-, information (mis-dis-mal-information)—the intentional or unintentional spread of false, misleading and right information related to agri-food topics. However, agri-food mis-dis-malinformation in social media and online digital agricultural communities of practice (CoPs) remains underexplored. There is also a limited theoretical and conceptual foundation for understanding mis-dis-malinformation topics in the agri-food sectors. The study aims to review mis-dis-malinformation literature and offer a framework to help understand agri-food mis-dis-malinformation in social media and online CoPs. This paper performs a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The review shows that many disciplines, particularly communication, social media studies, computer science, health studies, political science and journalism, are increasingly engaging with mis-dis-malinformation research. This systematic research generates a framework based on six thematic categories for holistically understanding and assessing agri-food mis-dis-malinformation in social and online media communities. The framework includes mis-dis-malinformation characterization, source identification, diffusion mechanisms, stakeholder impacts, detection tactics, and mis-dis-malinformation curtailment and countermeasures. The paper contributes to advancing the emerging literature on ‘controversial topics’, ‘misinformation’, and ‘information integrity’ of the virtual agri-food advisory services. This is the first attempt to systematically analyze and incorporate experience from diverse fields of mis-dis-malinformation research that will inform future scholarly works in facilitating conversations and advisory efforts in the agri-food sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Ataharul Chowdhury & Khondokar H. Kabir & Abdul-Rahim Abdulai & Md Firoze Alam, 2023. "Systematic Review of Misinformation in Social and Online Media for the Development of an Analytical Framework for Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4753-:d:1090342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Louise Manning & Adele Wylie & Michael K. Goodman, 2025. "Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions: An Analysis of Emerging Media Frames and Consumer Narrative Tensions on Natural Solutions and Techno-Fixes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-19, May.

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