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Cited by 291Misinformation and Its ImpactsCommunication and COVID-19 ImpactComplex Network Analysis Techniques

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 8 of the 8 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

‘Corona? 5G? or both?’: the dynamics of COVID-19/5G conspiracy theories on Facebook

Open access
Bruns, Axel, Harrington, Stephen, Hurcombe, Edward·2020·Media International Australia
DOI 10.1177/1329878x20946113PMC PMC7404088
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Abstract

Focussing in detail on one key component of the infodemic surrounding COVID-19, this article traces the dissemination dynamics of rumours that the pandemic outbreak was somehow related to the rollout of 5G mobile telephony technology in Wuhan and around the world. Drawing on a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods including time-series analysis, network analysis and in-depth close reading, our analysis shows the dissemination of the rumour on Facebook from its obscure origins in pre-existing conspiracist groups through greater uptake in more diverse communities to substantial amplification by celebrities, sports stars and media outlets. The in-depth tracing of COVID-related mis- and disinformation across social networks offers important new insights into the dynamics of online information dissemination and points to opportunities to slow and stop the spread of false information, or at least to combat it more directly with accurate counterinformation.

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Figure 1. Volume of COVID/5G posts on Facebook over time, split into Facebook post types.
Figure 1. Volume of COVID/5G posts on Facebook over time, split into Facebook post types.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2. Network between Facebook spaces (red) and URLs shared (grey), filtered to a degree ⩾5.
Figure 2. Network between Facebook spaces (red) and URLs shared (grey), filtered to a degree ⩾5.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Show all 8 references

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. 10.1086/265813 · DOI
  2. Benkelman S (2019) The sound of silence: strategic amplification. In: Getting It Right: Strategies for Truth-Telling in a Time of Misinformation and Polarization. American Press Institute. Available at: https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/strategy-studies/the-sound-of-silence-strategic-amplification/ (accessed 28 May 2020).
  3. Hall S (1980) Encoding/decoding. In: Hall S, Hobson D, Lowe A, et al. (eds) Culture, Media, Language: Working Papers in Cultural Studies, 1972-79. London: Unwin Hyman, pp. 128–139.
  4. Oswald ME, Grosjean S (2004) Confirmation bias. In: Pohl RF (ed.) Cognitive Illusions: A Handbook on Fallacies and Biases in Thinking, Judgement and Memory. Hove: Psychology Press, pp. 79–96.

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Metadata

Authors
Bruns, A., Harrington, S., & Hurcombe, E.
Affiliations
Queensland University of Technology (AU)
Corresponding author
Bruns, Axel
ORCID
Venue
Media International Australia
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2020-08-04
Volume
177
Issue
1
Pages
12-29
ISSN
  • 1324-5325 (ISSN-L)
  • 1329-878X
  • 2200-467X
DOI
10.1177/1329878x20946113
PMC
PMC7404088
OpenAlex
W3047084175
Cited by
291
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 72 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 6
FWCI
65.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Media International Australia (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
Funders
Australian Research Council (DP200101317 Evaluating the Challenge of ‘Fake Ne, FT130100703 Understanding Intermedia Information F)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
Keywords
COVID-19 conspiracy theories, 5G, infodemic, disinformation, Facebook, online information dissemination, counter-information

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