A Differential Epidemic Model for Information, Misinformation, and Disinformation in Online Social Networks: COVID-19 Vaccination

A Differential Epidemic Model for Information, Misinformation, and Disinformation in Online Social Networks: COVID-19 Vaccination

Nitesh Narayan, Rishi Kumar Jha, Anshuman Singh
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/IJSWIS.300827
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Abstract

These days the online social network has become a huge source of data. People are actively sharing information on these platforms. The data on online social networks can be misinformation, information, and disinformation. Because online social networks have become an important part of our lives, the information on online social networks makes a great impact on us. Here a differential epidemic model for information, misinformation, and disinformation on online social networks is proposed. The expression for basic reproduction number has been developed. Again, the stability condition for the system at both infection-free and endemic equilibriums points has been discussed. The numerical simulation has been performed to validate the theoretical results. Data available on Twitter related to COVID-19 vaccination is used to perform the experiment. Finally, the authors discuss the control strategy to minimize the misinformation and disinformation related to vaccination.
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1. Introduction

To stay connected is the basic characteristic of the human race. From thousands of years ago to till date, men have used different kinds of tools to communicate their feelings, share information and ideas with their known and new ones. In the 21st century, the most common tools that enable people to connect with each other are web-based social media platforms. Social media platforms have made a tremendous impact on everyone’s life. The various studies and research have shown that a good number of people spend 25% of their daily life on social media (Daily time spent on social networking by internet users worldwide from 2012 to 2020, n.d.). It has played a vital role in making the global compact. The changes that are brought by the social media in our life can be felt easily. It has made communication much easier than ever before. People can share their ideas, thought, data, information, and videos through these platforms rather easily. These platforms may come in different blogs, microblogs, podcasts, weblogs etc. These days, the most commonly used social media platforms are Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter etc. People of different spheres and views share their opinion, facts and information through these channels.

As social media made an impact on most of the user’s life, it has become a challenge for the platform providers to develop a security check system so that only reliable and useful information spread through these platforms. Social media deliver and exchange millions of information. This information can be classified into three categories i.e information, misinformation, and disinformation. Information is simply a processed data or facts. Misinformation is something false or inaccurate information that is being communicated not with a view to harmful intention. In other words, misinformation is not true but is not shared with a malicious purpose. Disinformation is also a kind of misinformation but it is communicated with a deceptive purpose. Disinformation is the most harmful form of information that is communicated and shared with a view to create panic, suspicion, and fear among the masses.

So, different types of data and information keep propagating in the sphere of these social media platforms. Some of these are useful and informative to us while some contents are being propagated with a malicious agenda. The intention behind such malicious agenda is to harm the user’s reputation and to create a havoc environment over these web based platforms.

As obvious from the above, it has become a challenge for the social media service providers to provide a safeguard to their users against such malpractices that cause a form of fear and panic so that the reliability and the integrity of these service providers remain unquestioned among the population. Here a dynamic system has been proposed that will give safeguard against such malpractices to the social media users to a great extent.

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