2024/11/08 by Devang Shah, Shah, Devang, Hriday Ranka +5
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Computers and Society (cs.CY) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Information and Cyber Security #Misinformation and Its Impacts #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence #Social and Information Networks (cs.SI)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2411.05922
openalex publication_date 2024/11/08 · openalex created_date 2024/11/15 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In recent years, mass-broadcast messaging platforms like Telegram have gained prominence for both, serving as a harbor for private communication and enabling large-scale disinformation campaigns. The encrypted and networked nature of these platforms makes it challenging to identify intervention targets since most channels that promote misleading information are not originators of the message. In this work, we examine the structural mechanisms that facilitate the propagation of debunked misinformation on Telegram, focusing on the role of cross-community hubs-nodes that bridge otherwise isolated groups in amplifying misinformation. We introduce a multi-dimensional 'bridging' metric to quantify the influence of nodal Telegram channels, exploring their role in reshaping network topology during key geopolitical events. By analyzing over 1740 Telegram channels and applying network analysis we uncover the small subset of nodes, and identify patterns that are emblematic of information 'flows' on this platform. Our findings provide insights into the structural vulnerabilities of distributed platforms, offering practical suggestions for interventions to mitigate networked disinformation flows.