Purpose

The Internet is a breeding ground for rumors. A way to tackle the problem involves the use of counter-rumor messages that refute rumors. This paper analyzes users' intention to follow rumors and counter-rumors as a function of two factors: individuals' risk propensity and messages' prior endorsement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducted an online experiment. Complete responses from 134 participants were analyzed statistically.

Findings

Risk-seeking users were keener to follow counter-rumors compared with risk-averse ones. No difference was detected in terms of their intention to follow rumors. Users' intention to follow rumors always exceeded their intention to follow counter-rumors regardless of whether prior endorsement was low or high.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the scholarly understanding of people's behavioral responses when, unknowingly, exposed to rumors and counter-rumors on the Internet. Moreover, it dovetails the literature by examining how risk-averse and risk-seeking individuals differ in terms of intention to follow rumors and counter-rumors. It also shows how prior endorsement of such messages drives their likelihood to be followed.

Originality/value

The paper explores the hitherto elusive question: When users are unknowingly exposed to both a rumor and its counter-rumor, which entry is likely to be followed more than the other? It also takes into consideration the roles played by individuals' risk propensity and messages' prior endorsement.

中文翻译：

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互联网用户要注意，无论风险倾向和事先认可如何，您都会关注在线健康谣言（而不是反谣言）

目的

互联网是谣言的温床。解决这个问题的一种方法是使用反谣言信息来驳斥谣言。本文分析了用户关注谣言和反谣言的意图作为两个因素的函数：个人的风险倾向和消息的事先认可。

设计/方法论/方法

论文进行了在线实验。对 134 名参与者的完整回答进行了统计分析。

发现

与厌恶风险的用户相比，寻求风险的用户更热衷于反驳谣言。在他们遵循谣言的意图方面没有发现任何差异。无论之前的代言是低还是高，用户的追随谣言的意图总是超过他们追随反谣言的意图。

研究限制/影响

本文有助于从学术上理解人们在不知不觉中暴露于互联网上的谣言和反谣言时的行为反应。此外，它通过研究厌恶风险和寻求风险的个人在遵循谣言和反谣言的意图方面有何不同，从而与文献相吻合。它还显示了对此类消息的事先认可如何推动其被关注的可能性。

创意/价值

该论文探讨了迄今为止难以捉摸的问题：当用户在不知不觉中同时接触谣言和反谣言时，哪个条目可能比另一个更容易被关注？它还考虑了个人“风险倾向和信息”先前认可所扮演的角色。