Cure or Poison? Identity Verification and the Posting of Fake News on Social Media

2021 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 8

Authors: Wang, Shuting; Pang, Min-Seok; Pavlou, Paul A.

Abstract: The proliferation of fake news on social media has become a major societal and p ... Expand

Abstract: The proliferation of fake news on social media has become a major societal and political problem. Meanwhile, social media platforms have started to require identity verification from users and label the verified users with a verification badge, making users more responsible for their online behavior. In this study, we empirically investigate two research questions: 1) What is the impact of identity verification on users' propensity to post fake news? and 2) How does a verification badge moderate the impact of identity verification? Results suggest that while identity verification without a verification badge has a negative impact on users' posting of fake news, this impact is significantly weakened when users are granted a verification badge after identity verification. Given the criticisms on identity verification policies, these findings underscore both the potential upsides and risks for social media platforms seeking to combat fake news through identity verification techniques. Collapse

Topics: fake news social media Twitter website crowdsourcing

Methods: survey robustness check experimental group propensity score matching descriptive statistic

One-Way Mirrors and Weak-Signaling in Online Dating: A Randomized Field Experiment

2013 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Umyarov, Akhmed; Bapna, Ravi; Ramaprasad, Jui; Shmueli, Galit

Abstract: The growing popularity of online dating sites is altering one of the most fundam ... Expand

Abstract: The growing popularity of online dating sites is altering one of the most fundamental human activities of finding a date or a marriage partner. Online dating platforms offer new capabilities, such as intensive search, big-data based mate recommendations and varying levels of anonymity, whose parallels do not exist in the physical world. In this study we examine the impact of anonymity feature on matching outcomes. Based on a large scale randomized experiment in partnership with one of the largest online dating companies, we demonstrate causally that anonymity indeed lets users browse more freely, but at the same time impacts the existing social dating norms (what we call a weak signaling mechanism) and thus produces negative impact on matches. Our results show that this weak signaling is especially helpful for women, helping them overcome social frictions coming from established social norms that discourage them from making the first move in dating. Collapse

Topics: anonymity online dating website social norm big data

Methods: experiment experimental group field experiment descriptive statistic randomized field experiment

Theories: signaling theory social exchange theory