The Casual Observer: Low-Activity Twitter Users as Arbiters of (Mis)Information in the War in Ukraine
The Casual Observer: Low-Activity Twitter Users as Arbiters of (Mis)Information in the War in Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: The spread of misinformation in the digital age has become a significant concern, especially during times of crisis and conflict. In the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, a web of actors – including government officials, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens – participate in shaping public discourse on platforms such as Twitter. Although much attention has been devoted to the role of bots and other highly active users in spreading misinformation, the majority of Twitter users remain “casual” observers with limited active engagement in crises. This paper investigates the communication strategies of these casual observers concerning the war in Ukraine, focusing on their propensity to share misinformation. Drawing on an analysis of 117 million tweets, the findings indicate casual users are less likely to disseminate links to misinformation sources. This observation underscores the potential of low-activity users to act as a stabilizing force in public discourse, mitigating the spread of false narratives and promoting more accurate information during times of crisis. By shedding light on the role of casual observers in shaping public discourse, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of crisis communication and highlights the need for a nuanced examination of information sharing dynamics on social media platforms.

• Details
• Contents