How manipulating information affects information diffusion during disasters: The effects of modifying falsehoods versus corrections
研究了灾害期间社交媒体上信息修改（如虚假信息和更正信息）对扩散的影响，发现修改后的信息比未修改的分享更多，且更正信息在后期被更积极修改，负面情绪更易引发病毒式传播。
Information evolves as it is disseminated on social media. However, studies have largely overlooked a major aspect of the diffusion process: how information is modified, the various dimensions of these modifications, and their roles in the diffusion process. To fill these research gaps, we utilize the Information Manipulation Theory (IMT) as a theoretical lens and a unique panel dataset of 71 falsehoods, propagated during five disasters, to investigate how modifying information affects its diffusion. Our exploratory analysis suggests that at least 65 % of the messages shared are half-truths. Although falsehoods had a higher modification rate for the first 700 h, corrections were modified more aggressively and for 100 h longer after that period, owing to competition. Our empirical analysis suggests that modified information, i.e., information that includes unrelated responses such as deflections, self-referents, additional details, and more information, is generally shared more frequently than unmodified information. Furthermore, for falsehoods, a one-unit increase in these modifications increases diffusion; however, when manner and quantity modifications increase by one unit for corrections, sharing increases by 115.1 % and 102.2 %, respectively. Although relation modifications from corrections cause an over 149 % increase in sharing at the information diffusion introduction stages, they do not occur in the maturity and decline stages, and are counterproductive in the growth stages. We also find that negatively charged corrections stimulate virality more than positive ones. These findings have important implications for researchers and decision-makers. • Modified information is shared more than those that are not. • At least 65 % of messages shared are half-truths. • Quantity, relation, and manner modifications positively affect resharing behavior for falsehoods. • Corrections are modified 100 h longer but less aggressively than falsehoods within the first 700 h. • Negatively charged corrections, as well as those with more detail and information, stimulate sharing.