Analysis of User-Generated Comments on Rumor Correction YouTube Videos

Abstract

This research investigates how Internet users comment in response to rumor corrections posted on social media. The focus is specifically on the degree to which aggressive language is used. As the test cases for investigation, the research looks into two rumor corrections on YouTube. The rumors were set in the context of the riots and protests in Jakarta following the Indonesian presidential election in 2019. A total of 1,000 comments (500 comments from each of the two cases) was admitted for content analysis. In one case, anti-correction voice was dominant, highlighting the failure of the rumor correction to refute the rumor. In the other, pro-correction voice was dominant, indicating the success of the rumor correction. Aggressive language was widely used in the latter. Implications of the findings are highlighted.

Negative tourism rumors towards user online citizenship behavior: the differential influence of correction sources

“…Rumor correction, the critical carrier for crisis communication on negative tourism rumors, is the deliberate attempt to limit or prevent the spread of rumors (Song et al , 2021). It is difficult for users to distinguish rumors from truths, and their judgements largely depend on correction (Majid et al , 2021). Different corrective content (denial vs refutation) and correction platform (social media vs traditional media) rationally persuade or emotionally move the message recipient to different degrees (Andrews et al , 2016; Pal et al , 2019; Guo et al , 2023).…”

“…Emotional power cannot be ignored in crisis situations (Xie et al , 2022). Individual rumor correction arouses the opinions and emotional resonance of others (Anagnostopoulou et al , 2019; Majid et al , 2021). Corrective statements issued by the victimized business of negative rumors arouse positive responses.…”