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Combating misinformation online: Re-imagining social media for policy-making

Author

Listed:
  • Kyza, Eleni A.
  • Varda, Christiana
  • Panos, Dionysis
  • Karageorgiou, Melina
  • Komendantova-Amann, Nadejda
  • Coppolino Perfumi, Serena
  • Shah, Syed Iftikhar Husain
  • Hosseini, Akram Sadat

Abstract

Social media have created communication channels between citizens and policymakers but are also susceptible to rampant misinformation. This new context demands new social media policies that can aid policymakers in making evidence-based decisions for combating misinformation online. This paper reports on data collected from policymakers in Austria, Greece, and Sweden, using focus groups and in-depth interviews. Analyses provide insights into challenges and identify four important themes for supporting policy-making for combating misinformation: a) creating a trusted network of experts and collaborators, b) facilitating the validation of online information, c) providing access to visualisations of data at different levels of granularity, and d) increasing the transparency and explainability of flagged misinformative content. These recommendations have implications for rethinking how revised social media policies can contribute to evidence-based decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyza, Eleni A. & Varda, Christiana & Panos, Dionysis & Karageorgiou, Melina & Komendantova-Amann, Nadejda & Coppolino Perfumi, Serena & Shah, Syed Iftikhar Husain & Hosseini, Akram Sadat, 2020. "Combating misinformation online: Re-imagining social media for policy-making," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 9(4), pages 1-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:iprjir:225651
    DOI: 10.14763/2020.4.1514
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heidi J. Larson, 2020. "Blocking information on COVID-19 can fuel the spread of misinformation," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7803), pages 306-306, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mezei, Péter & Verteș-Olteanu, Andreea, 2020. "Editorial: From trust in the system to trust in the content," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 9(4), pages 1-28.

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