The Challenges of Studying Misinformation on Video-Sharing Platforms During Crises and Mass-Convergence Events
This work addresses the gap in research methods for analyzing misinformation on video-sharing platforms, which is crucial for researchers and policymakers dealing with fast-paced, high-stakes events.
The paper tackles the problem of studying misinformation on video-sharing platforms during crises, outlining three core challenges: navigating platform affordances, determining content authenticity, and understanding novel user behaviors.
Mis- and disinformation can spread rapidly on video-sharing platforms (VSPs). Despite the growing use of VSPs, there has not been a proportional increase in our ability to understand this medium and the messages conveyed through it. In this work, we draw on our prior experiences to outline three core challenges faced in studying VSPs in high-stakes and fast-paced settings: (1) navigating the unique affordances of VSPs, (2) understanding VSP content and determining its authenticity, and (3) novel user behaviors on VSPs for spreading misinformation. By highlighting these challenges, we hope that researchers can reflect on how to adapt existing research methods and tools to these new contexts, or develop entirely new ones.