widespread panic and irrational behavior, including
hoarding medical supplies and avoiding healthcare
institutions, were caused by rumors about the virus’s
lethality and the efficacy of specific therapies
(Bukhari, 2020). Vulnerable groups, such as the
elderly or people with underlying mental health issues,
may be most affected psychologically. Rumors have
an emotional cost that can result in long-term
psychological stress that impairs a person’s general
well-being and quality of life. According to related
research, rumor-spreading behavior is also more
significantly influenced by negative emotions (e.g.,
anger and disappointment), as the recipient is more
likely to spread rumors to express emotions or seek
empathy. This type of emotion-driven
communication behavior is especially prevalent in
social networks, which exacerbates the further
transmission of fake news (Kim & Bock, 2011).
3.2 Problems of Rumor Propagation on
Weibo
3.2.1 Uncontrollability of Information
Dissemination
As an open social platform, Weibo’s speed and scale
of diverse information dissemination are difficult to
control. A single rumor can reach millions of users
within hours, and the platform’s algorithm further
accelerates its spread. Although Weibo has already
implemented measures such as content moderation
and rumor-debunking systems, its response speed and
coverage are still insufficient to defeat the rapid speed
of false information fully. The fact that a rumor may
have reached a large amount of users by the time it is
detected and addressed makes it difficult to control.
This uncontrollability is a serious problem since it
permits rumors to proliferate unchecked, causing
extensive harm before they can be successfully
challenged.
3.2.2 Complexity of User Behavior
Participants’ behaviors in rumor propagation are
varied, ranging from passive sharing driven by
curiosity or fear to active sharing driven by personal
interest. Some users may share rumors without
verifying their authenticity simply because the
content aligns with their beliefs or interests, while
others may actively broadcast incorrect information
to get attention, gain followers, or even profit
monetarily. According to related research, the variety
of user behavior depends on the user’s information
perception(e.g., Number of followers and social
network activity) and activity, individuals’
psychological aspect(e.g., Profit-seeking psychology
or Herd mentality), and the competitive mechanism
of rumor and anti-rumor information (Xiao, Chen,
Wei et al., 2019). Another research study also pointed
out that people who hesitate to join in the propagation
of rumors can even exacerbate their speed (Hu, Pan,
Hou and He, 2018). This complexity makes it
challenging to predict the motivations behind rumor
propagation, which, therefore, further increases the
difficulty of rumor control.
3.2.3 Limitations of Rumor-Refuting System
Despite the diverse measures taken by Weibo to deter
the dissemination of rumors, the limitation of its
rumor-refuting system still exists. According to
related research, the speed and scale of refuting
information are often less than the rumor itself, and
the former is more likely to be confined within the
scientific chamber without being exposed to a large
number of ordinary people, which results in limited
efficiency. Additionally, the results of the research
showed that some users have low trust in rumor-
refuting information and even resist it. This resistance
can be due to a variety of factors, including pre-
existing biases, distrust of official sources, or the
influence of echo chambers within social networks
(Zollo, Bessi, Del Vicario et al., 2017). In some cases,
debunking efforts may even have the opposite impact,
as users who are deeply invested in a particular rumor
may view the debunking as an attempt to suppress the
truth, leading to further resistance and skepticism.
3.2.4 Algorithmic Amplification of Rumors
The platform’s algorithm’s function in spreading
misleading information is one of the biggest obstacles
to regulating rumor propagation on Weibo. The
algorithm gives priority to content that receives a lot
of likes, shares, and comments. The algorithm is more
likely to promote rumors than true facts since rumors
frequently provoke powerful emotional responses. As
a result of this algorithmic bias, rumors spread more
quickly since they become more visible when more
people share them. Recording to a relevant research,
videos with a high level of involvement (likes,
comments, shares) are typically recommended by the
social media’s algorithm. The rumor may spread
more quickly if the algorithm pushes it to more users
and creates a lot of interaction, especially if the
information is controversial. Second, the algorithm
might distribute the item to more users faster if it is
produced when users are active, which would
accelerate the spread of the rumor. Additionally, users