Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Building Immunity to Online Deception: A New Approach Using Active Inoculation647 views
Author
Stoloff, Eric, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Advisors
Pettit, Raymond, EN-Comp Science Dept, University of Virginia
Nguyen, Rich, EN-Comp Science Dept, University of Virginia
Abstract
The spread of false information on social media is a dangerous threat to modern society
because it can lead people to take misguided and even violent actions. Social media is an
incredibly important information source for people and it allows for the propagation of content
around the world. Despite this, users have an inability to recognize false information and fake
news. This thesis delves into the root causes of this issue and evaluates current solutions on a comprehensive list of criteria. It also proposes a new approach by which the spread of false information on social media can be mitigated, using the technique of active inoculation. Overall, it stresses the need for social media companies to go in a different direction in their fight against false information and seeks to make social media a more informed, more productive place.
Degree
BS (Bachelor of Science)
Keywords
social media; false information; fake news; inoculation
Stoloff, Eric. Building Immunity to Online Deception: A New Approach Using Active Inoculation. University of Virginia, School of Engineering and Applied Science, BS (Bachelor of Science), 2021-05-14, https://doi.org/10.18130/js3g-3627.
