Deterrence Effects of Social Media Interventions on Health Misinformation Dissemination by Bots and Humans

Abstract

In the realm of social media, information dissemination is pivotal, yet it is tainted by the proliferation of misinformation propagated by both bots and humans, bearing consequential impacts on individuals and society. To address this issue, social media platforms have implemented removal, reduction, and informing interventions, acting as deterrent mechanisms to dissuade users from engaging in the spread of misinformation. Nonetheless, the sustained effectiveness of these interventions on bots and humans remains unclear. Drawing on deterrence theory, this study examines the efficacy of social media interventions on bots and humans sharing health misinformation. Our results show that most interventions can have sustained effects on bots and their activities for years after intervention implementation. However, the interventions may not have significant deterrence effects on humans and their activities. Our findings offer important theoretical and practical implications by highlighting the importance of studying both bots and humans and developing creative strategies to tackle health misinformation dissemination.

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