The Dynamics of Misinformation Spread on Social Media Networks

Abstract

In today's era, where digital communication technologies are significantly transforming the way information is shared, social media—leveraging its exceptional interactivity and dissemination efficiency—has emerged as the central platform for information exchange. Nevertheless, this development is accompanied by a critical challenge: the widespread proliferation of misinformation. This paper provides a thorough and systematic review of research advancements in misinformation dissemination on social media. It begins by examining both classical and state-of-the-art information dissemination models, investigates the distinctive mechanisms through which platforms amplify content, analyzes the impact of human behavior and cognitive factors, and evaluates existing strategies for detection and mitigation. The findings indicate that while some progress has been made in addressing misinformation through technological innovations and intervention measures, several obstacles remain. These include privacy protection concerns, difficulties in managing cross-platform dissemination, and the growing threat posed by adversarial attacks, all of which hinder the overall effectiveness of governance efforts.