Location
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Start Date
28-8-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
28-8-2025 12:30 PM
Description
Online communities fulfil our innate desire for connection in an increasingly connected world. While offering benefits, they also present disadvantages, attracting significant scholarly attention—especially as their use surged during pandemic-related isolation. Key unresolved questions remain regarding these platforms.
This paper identifies and analyses prevalent misinformation types within online communities, examines how communities create or contribute to its spread, and explores their strategies for mitigating it. Using a grounded theory approach and semi-structured questionnaires, the study reveals that common misinformation forms include misconceptions, fake news, fraud, rumours, and cyberbullying. Crucially, online communities propagate misinformation primarily by sharing unverified content. To combat this, they employ restrictive measures and educational initiatives.
Furthermore, the study develops a novel model illustrating the dynamics of how online communities both propagate and combat misinformation. This research provides valuable contributions to both academic understanding and practical applications.
Included in
Coping with Misinformation in Ghanaian Online Communities: A Grounded Theory Approach
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Online communities fulfil our innate desire for connection in an increasingly connected world. While offering benefits, they also present disadvantages, attracting significant scholarly attention—especially as their use surged during pandemic-related isolation. Key unresolved questions remain regarding these platforms.
This paper identifies and analyses prevalent misinformation types within online communities, examines how communities create or contribute to its spread, and explores their strategies for mitigating it. Using a grounded theory approach and semi-structured questionnaires, the study reveals that common misinformation forms include misconceptions, fake news, fraud, rumours, and cyberbullying. Crucially, online communities propagate misinformation primarily by sharing unverified content. To combat this, they employ restrictive measures and educational initiatives.
Furthermore, the study develops a novel model illustrating the dynamics of how online communities both propagate and combat misinformation. This research provides valuable contributions to both academic understanding and practical applications.
