Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

3-2020

Abstract

In March 2011, the catastrophic accident known as "The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster" took place, initiated by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The only nuclear accident to receive a Level-7 classification on the International Nuclear Event Scale since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, the Fukushima event triggered global concerns and rumors regarding radiation leaks. Among the false rumors was an image, which had been described as a map of radioactive discharge emanating into the Pacific Ocean, as illustrated in the accompanying figure. In fact, this figure, depicting the wave height of the tsunami that followed, still to this date circulates on social media with the inaccurate description. Social media is ideal for spreading rumors, because it lacks censorship. Confirmation bias and filter-bubble effects further amplify the spread of unconfirmed information. Upon public outcry, independent fact-checking organizations have emerged globally, and many platforms are making efforts to fight against fake news.

Keywords

Social media, fake news, rumors, Asia Pacific, disasters, fact checking

Discipline

Asian Studies | Databases and Information Systems | Social Media

Research Areas

Data Science and Engineering

Publication

Communications of the ACM

Volume

63

Issue

4

First Page

68

Last Page

71

ISSN

0001-0782

Identifier

10.1145/3378422

Publisher

ACM

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1145/3378422

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