Determinants of fake news diffusion on social media: a systematic literature review
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 26 October 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the determinants causing fake information proliferation on social media platforms and the challenges to control the diffusion of fake news phenomena.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied the systematic review methodology to conduct a synthetic analysis of 37 articles published in peer-reviewed journals retrieved from 13 scholarly databases.
Findings
The findings of the study displayed that dissatisfaction, behavior modifications, trending practices to viral fake stories, natural inclination toward negativity and political purposes were the key determinants that led individuals to believe in fake news shared on digital media. The study also identified challenges being faced by people to control the spread of fake news on social networking websites. Key challenges included individual autonomy, the fast-paced social media ecosystem, fake accounts on social media, cutting-edge technologies, disparities and lack of media literacy.
Originality/value
The study has theoretical contributions through valuable addition to the body of existing literature and practical implications for policymakers to construct such policies that might prove successful antidote to stop the fake news cancer spreading everywhere via digital media. The study has also offered a framework to stop the diffusion of fake news.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to pay thanks to Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their support.
Conflicts of interest: The authors do not have any conflict of interest.
Citation
Shahzad, K., Khan, S.A., Iqbal, A., Shabbir, O. and Latif, M. (2023), "Determinants of fake news diffusion on social media: a systematic literature review", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2023-0189
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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