Conspiracy theories and social media platforms.

Authors :: Cinelli M
Etta G
Avalle M
Quattrociocchi A
Di Marco N
Valensise C
Galeazzi A
Quattrociocchi W
Source :: Current opinion in psychology [Curr Opin Psychol] 2022 Oct; Vol. 47, pp. 101407. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 30.
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: Conspiracy theories proliferate online. We provide an overview of information consumption patterns related to conspiracy content on four mainstream social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit), with a focus on niche ones. Opinion polarisation and echo chambers appear as pivotal elements of communication around conspiracy theories. A relevant role may also be played by the content moderation policies enforced by each social media platform. Banning contents or users from a social media could lead to a level of user segregation that goes beyond echo chambers and reaches the entire social media space, up to the formation of 'echo platforms'. The insurgence of echo platforms is a new online phenomenon that needs to be investigated as it could foster many dangerous phenomena that we observe online, including the spreading of conspiracy theories.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement Nothing declared.<br /> (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)