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Unequal penalties: user status dynamics in the spread of social media misinformation
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DOI：10.1093/jcmc/zmag005.png)
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Abstract
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How do online communities respond when users share misinformation, and do those consequences differ depending on who is speaking? Using a large panel dataset from Reddit, this study examines whether patterns of engagement vary by user status when misinformation is disseminated. We analyze 2 dimensions of engagement: net upvote scores and discursive divergence. Results reveal a notable asymmetry. Among low-status users, misinformation posts are associated with fewer upvotes and substantially higher discursive divergence. In contrast, among high-status users, misinformation posts are associated with relatively higher upvotes and lower discursive divergence. These findings suggest a status-based dynamic within social media platforms, indicating that user status hierarchies may shape how misinformation is received in digital environments.
Keywords:
misinformation
user status
social media
engagement
discursive divergence
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