Emotional Influences on Misinformation Spread: Insights from a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This systematic literature review investigates the influence of emotions on the perception and spread of misinformation on social media platforms, focusing on domains such as disaster, health, and politics. Following Webster's guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including Web of Science, ACM Digital Library, and Scopus, using predefined keywords related to misinformation and social media. Our thematic focus excluded platforms like LinkedIn, emphasizing social media giants like Twitter and Facebook. From the initial search in June 2023 and subsequent updates, we selected 20 peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2023 that met our inclusion criteria. Quality assessment using NVIVO software and intercoder reliability checks ensured robust data analysis and consensus among researchers. Results from the 20 selected studies revealed a strong correlation between emotions and the dissemination of misinformation. Emotions such as fear, anger, and disgust were found to play significant roles in the rapid spread of false narratives, particularly during crises like natural disasters. The influence of emotional cues on individuals' perceptions of fake news was evident, with studies highlighting the impact of emotional framing and cognitive dissonance. Additionally, our review identified the domains of health, disaster, and politics as critical areas where misinformation can have severe consequences, including hindering rescue operations and exacerbating existing crises. Emotionally charged content on social media was observed to contribute significantly to the virality of false information, emphasizing the need to understand and address emotional drivers in misinformation propagation. Our findings suggest a complex interplay between emotions, cognitive processes, and information dissemination on social media, underscoring the importance of considering emotional factors in combating misinformation. This study provides a roadmap for future research and interventions aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of misinformation in sensitive domains.