In this episode of the Smidgecast, Christian Gulas, a Network Analyst from FAS Research in Vienna, explains his role in analyzing the spread and attractiveness of disinformation and conspiracy theories on social media platforms. We explore the social and semantic structures that make these theories so compelling, the role of emotions like fear and anger, and how social media's business model and algorithms contribute to the proliferation of conspiracy theories.
Christian also discusses the concept of echo chambers and the globalization of opinions, and he provides a detailed analysis of the future challenges in combating misinformation and conspiracy theories, including the impact of AI and social bots. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying societal issues that make these theories attractive in the first place.
02:45 - 03:27 : Introduction of Christian Gulas
03:27 - 06:33 : Social and Semantic Structure of Conspiracy Theories
06:33 - Role of Social Networks
09:44 - Emotional Triggers in Conspiracy Acceptance
14:02 - Social Media Platforms as Eco-chambers
16:59 - Future Challenges in Fighting Misinformation