9. Definition
Rumer
is
commonly
defined
as
unverified
informaBon
that
contains
instrumentally
valuable
statements
or
public
concerns
for
a
certain
group
(DiFonzo
and
Bordia,
2007).
They
circulate
“through
the
grapevine”
via
unofficial
communicaBon
channels,
as
they
are
not
publicly
confirmed
by
an
official
source
(Allport
and
Postman,
1945,
1947).
Online
Rumer
11. Causes
Technical
Openness
Instantaneity
Anonymity
Simplicity
Social
Weak
awareness
of
prevenBon
UnBmely
authoritaBve
informaBon
Bad
early
warning
ability
Hype
and
markeBng
20. Conformity
If
most
of
the
acquaintances
believed
in
that
rumor,
we
would
easily
think
it
is
true.
Diffusion
Compassion
Make
use
of
people’s
sympathy
and
emoBon
with
the
words:
“Please
forward
to
people
you
care
about.”
“Chinese
must
share
it!”
Diffusion
21. Conformity
If
most
of
the
acquaintances
believed
in
that
rumor,
we
would
easily
think
it
is
true.
Compassion
Make
use
of
people’s
sympathy
and
emoBon
with
the
words:
“Please
forward
to
people
you
care
about.”
“Chinese
must
share
it!”
Diffusion
24. Diffusion
Diffusion
Cogni;ve
Bias
“People
always
believe
what
they
want
to
believe”
Hatred
Marginal
PopulaBon
/
Disadvantaged
Group
Way
to
express
anger
towards
social
injusBce
25. Diffusion
Cogni;ve
Bias
“People
always
believe
what
they
want
to
believe”
Hatred
Marginal
PopulaBon
/
Disadvantaged
Group
Way
to
express
anger
towards
social
injusBce
30. Spread
Biased
AssimilaBon
InformaBon
Cascade
Group
PolarizaBon
Public
prefer
to
follow
the
majority
rather
to
make
their
own
decision,
thus
emerge
the
“cascade
effect”.
Informa;on
Cascade
Eg.
Lysenko
and
the
“Long
John
Pants
conspiracy”
31. Spread
Biased
AssimilaBon
InformaBon
Cascade
Group
PolarizaBon
A
group
of
people
with
similar
ideology
tend
to
make
decisions
more
extreme
than
the
iniBal
form.
Group
Polariza;on
Eg.
Sarah
Palin
and
Barack
Obama
Crisis
32. Spread
Biased
AssimilaBon
InformaBon
Cascade
Group
PolarizaBon
A
tendency
lack
of
neutrality
and
objecBveness,
people
would
like
to
accept
informaBon
based
on
their
own
bias,
and
refuse
to
abandon
even
ignore
the
truth.
Biased
Assimila;on
Eg.
Nuclear
RadiaBon
and
Salt
34. Response
1
LegislaBon
Define
the
existence
of
Rumor
especially
the
so
called
online
rumors
and
confirm
the
punishment.
2
Sense
of
disBnguishing
Enhancement
of
the
common
sense
of
the
public
to
disBnguish
the
rumor.
3
Social
Groups
The
denials
in
Bme
for
those
grand
social
groups,
like
government,
mass
enterprises,
NGO
groups.
h=p://www.court.gov.cn/shenpan-‐xiangqing-‐5913.html
35. Response
1
LegislaBon
Define
the
existence
of
Rumor
especially
the
so
called
online
rumors
and
confirm
the
punishment.
2
Sense
of
disBnguishing
Enhancement
of
the
common
sense
of
the
public
to
disBnguish
the
rumor.
3
Social
Groups
The
denials
in
Bme
for
those
grand
social
groups,
like
government,
mass
enterprises,
NGO
groups.
36. Response
1
LegislaBon
Define
the
existence
of
Rumor
especially
the
so
called
online
rumors
and
confirm
the
punishment.
2
Sense
of
disBnguishing
Enhancement
of
the
common
sense
of
the
public
to
disBnguish
the
rumor.
3
Social
Groups
The
denials
in
Bme
for
those
grand
social
groups,
like
government,
mass
enterprises,
NGO
groups.
