Truths and Tales: Understanding Online Fake News Networks in South Korea

This study investigates the features of fake news networks and how they spread during the 2020 South Korean election. Using Actor-Network Theory (ANT), we assessed the network's central players and how they are connected. Results reveal the characteristics of the videoclips and channel networks responsible for the propagation of fake news. Analysis of the videoclip network reveals a high number of detected fake news videos and a high density of connections among users. Assessment of news videoclips on both actual and fake news networks reveals that the real news network is more concentrated. However, the scale of the network may play a role in these variations. Statistics for network centralization reveal that users are spread out over the network, pointing to its decentralized character. A closer look at the real and fake news networks inside videos and channels reveals similar trends. We find that the density of the real news videoclip network is higher than that of the fake news network, whereas the fake news channel networks are denser than their real news counterparts, which may indicate greater activity and interconnectedness in their transmission. We also found that fake news videoclips had more likes than real news videoclips, whereas real news videoclips had more dislikes than fake news videoclips. These findings strongly suggest that fake news videoclips are more accepted when people watch them on YouTube. In addition, we used semantic networks and automated content analysis to uncover common language patterns in fake news which helps us better understand the structure and dynamics of the networks involved in the dissemination of fake news. The findings reported here provide important insights on how fake news spread via social networks during the South Korean election of 2020. The results of this study have important implications for the campaign against fake news and ensuring factual coverage.

本研究深入探讨了虚假新闻网络的特性及其在2020年韩国大选期间的传播方式。通过运用行动者-网络理论（Actor-Network Theory, ANT），我们评估了网络中的核心参与者及其相互连接关系。研究结果显示，负责虚假新闻传播的视频片段和频道网络的特征。视频片段网络的深入分析揭示了大量检测到的虚假新闻视频以及用户之间高度密集的连接。对实际新闻与虚假新闻网络中新闻视频片段的分析表明，真实新闻网络更为集中。然而，网络的规模可能在这些差异中发挥着作用。网络集中化统计数据显示，用户在网络中分布广泛，显示出网络的去中心化特征。对视频和频道内真实与虚假新闻网络的进一步观察揭示了相似的趋势。我们发现，真实新闻视频片段网络的密度高于虚假新闻网络，而虚假新闻频道网络则比其真实新闻对应网络更为密集，这可能表明在传播过程中具有更高的活跃度和互连性。此外，我们还发现虚假新闻视频片段获得的点赞数多于真实新闻视频片段，而真实新闻视频片段的差评数则多于虚假新闻视频片段。这些发现强烈暗示了在YouTube上观看虚假新闻视频片段时，人们对其接受度更高。此外，我们还运用语义网络和自动内容分析技术，揭示了虚假新闻中的常见语言模式，这有助于我们更好地理解涉及虚假新闻传播的网络结构和动态。本研究所报告的发现为理解2020年韩国大选期间虚假新闻通过社交网络传播的方式提供了重要洞见。本研究结果对于抵制虚假新闻和确保事实报道具有重要意义。