Differential impact from individual versus collective misinformation tagging on the diversity of Twitter (X) information engagement and mobility.

ABSTRACT: Fears about the destabilizing impact of misinformation online have motivated individuals and platforms to respond. Individuals have increasingly challenged others' online claims with fact-checks in pursuit of a healthier information ecosystem and to break down echo chambers of self-reinforcing opinion. Using Twitter (now X) data, here we show the consequences of individual misinformation tagging: tagged posters had explored novel political information and expanded topical interests immediately prior, but being tagged caused posters to retreat into information bubbles. These unintended consequences were softened by a collective verification system for misinformation moderation. In Twitter's new feature, Community Notes, misinformation tagging was peer-reviewed by other fact-checkers before

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11760358 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature