Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Senior Researcher at the Research Center of the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation
2 Professor, Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran. (Responsible Author)
Abstract
Abstract
Predicting information sharing by social media users in Iran has various objectives, including their attitudes, experiences, and activism. This article studies the information sharing behavior of Iranian users on social media and the moderating role of information recognition knowledge.
The purpose: of this study is to predict the factors of information sharing by Iranian users and the moderating role of information recognition knowledge in social media. In fact, users' attitudes towards information sharing are influenced by various goals. Understanding these factors can help develop effective strategies to optimize information sharing on social media and lead to improving the quality of shared information.
Method: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey research in terms of method. The data of this research were collected by distributing an online questionnaire link to more than 697 social network users in Iran using convenience sampling method. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data using IMOS software.
Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be said that Iranian users share information through different actions on social media, and at the same time, information recognition knowledge moderates their information sharing. The findings showed that Iranian users share information on social media in pursuit of information search, location search, social relationship creation, metasocial interaction, and group perception, and the knowledge of users to recognize false information reduces the amount of information sharing on social media.
Statement of the Problem: Social media act as platforms for exchanging information and establishing connections between people. These platforms allow users to share various information, which can include educational content, entertainment, and even educational and health information. The importance and necessity of the research is that; the way of using social media and the type of content shared can be influenced by the experiences and mental models of users. In this context, the role of information recognition knowledge as a moderator in information sharing behavior has positive and significant effects. People who have a greater ability to evaluate and recognize information tend to share more true content and are less inclined to spread false information. This can lead to improving the quality of shared information and reducing the spread of false news. Information recognition on social platforms plays an important role in moderating the sharing behavior of users on social media. Information detection systems help users to prevent the dissemination of false information by identifying inappropriate and unreliable content, which helps to improve the quality of information. Because the negative effects of sharing poor-quality information can have negative consequences on society. In this regard, users' trust in social platforms and news sources may decrease due to the negative effects of false information. This decrease in trust may lead to a decrease in user interaction and participation in information sharing. Ultimately, information detection is an essential tool for moderating information sharing, which can lead to improving the quality of published content and reducing the negative effects of false and inaccurate information. By adopting effective approaches in this field, we can hope to improve public awareness and build positive collaborations in the social media space. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to predict the factors of information sharing by social media users and the moderating role of information detection knowledge. According to research, various factors such as motivation, concerns, and personality traits of users influence information sharing behavior on social networks. For example, users may share certain content due to personal goals, which can create a different atmosphere for online interactions. Information recognition knowledge refers to the ability of users to identify and evaluate the accuracy and credibility of the information they share. This knowledge helps users to check information before sharing and prevent the spread of false or misleading information. Research has shown that people with higher levels of media literacy are more likely to check the accuracy of information before sharing it (Hernandez et al., 2024:2). In general, predicting information sharing behavior on social media requires attention to various factors that influence this behavior. Several factors can influence information sharing behavior. Among these, we can mention the cognitive ability of users, which can help them identify the authenticity and accuracy of information. Also, the structure and design of social platforms also affect the behavior of users in sharing information. In addition, strengthening the knowledge of information recognition in users can help improve the quality of information that is shared and prevent the spread of misinformation. This will lead to the expansion of awareness and positive interactions in the social media context. Information recognition can effectively moderate information sharing, especially in various fields such as social media and user-generated content. Strong standards and processes in information recognition can improve the quality of information among those who share information and prevent the spread of misinformation. Therefore, the present study focuses on the question of how to predict information sharing by social media users and whether information recognition knowledge can moderate it? The theoretical framework of this study relies on the theory of use and gratification, social influence, and social media site dependence. The findings of this study can deepen our understanding of social media users' activism and provide us with clear strategies. Because in the contemporary world, social media, as one of the key tools, plays a very important role in the formation and development of users' activism. This role has arisen due to the unique capabilities of social media in communicating, exchanging information, and creating the capacity to organize public opinion. The research questions encompass this main objective, namely; predicting the activism of social media users in information sharing and the moderating role of information recognition knowledge. On this basis, an attempt has been made to answer the following questions: 1. Does “information seeking” by users lead to information sharing on social media? 2. Does “location seeking” by users lead to information sharing on social media? 3. Does “social networking”, “extra-social interaction” and “group perception” by users lead to information sharing on social media? 4. Does “information recognition knowledge” by users lead to increased information sharing on social media?
Keywords
- Keywords: Sharing
- knowledge
- information recognition
- social media
- information search
- creating social relationships
Main Subjects
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