Characterizing the roles of bots on Twitter during the COVID-19 infodemic

• DOI: 10.1007/s42001-021-00139-3
• Publication Date: 2021-08-30T06:16:51Z
• Authors: Wentao Xu; Kazutoshi Sasahara
• Keywords: Misinformation; False accusation; Trustworthiness; Pandemic

Abstract An infodemic is an emerging phenomenon caused by overabundance of information online. This proliferation makes it difficult for the public to distinguish trustworthy news and credible from untrustworthy sites non-credible sources. The perils debuted with outbreak COVID-19 pandemic bots (i.e., automated accounts controlled a set algorithms) that are suspected spreading infodemic. Although previous research has revealed played central role in misinformation during major political events, how behavior unclear. In this paper, we examined roles case diffusion such as “5G” “Bill Gates” conspiracy theories content related “Trump” “WHO” analyzing retweet networks retweeted items. We show segregated topology their networks, which indicates right-wing self-media theorists may lead opinion cleavage, while malicious might favor amplification information. basic influence could be larger human users than bots, effects non-negligible under situation.