Virtual space and social media studies

Virtual space and social media studies

Recognizing the components of fake news on the Persian BBC Instagram social network Street protests in Iran (September to March 1401)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Niloufar Hassan 1
Mohammad Reza Esmaili, 2
1 Master's degree in the Department of Culture and Communication, Publicity and Cultural Communication, Sourah International University, Tehran, Iran. niloufarhassan1988@gmail.com
2 Assistant Professor of Media Management, Faculty of Culture and Communication, Soore International University, Tehran, Iran. dr.esmili@soore.ac.ir
10.22083/cssms.2025.486242.1016
Abstract
Abstract
Objective:Fake news and the problem of spreading it in social media have weakened reliable journalism and reliable information. The necessity of this issue has prompted governments and media to investigate effective solutions to detect fake news. How to recognize the components of fake news in social networks, especially those related to protest activities, is a problem that is answered in this research. The main purpose of the research is to identify and present the components of fake news in the spread of street protests in Iran in 2022. The sub-goals include knowing the components of fake news (political, economic, artistic, cultural, sports) and how to spread them in the spread of 2022 street protests.
method: In this research, we try to identify the fake news components of the BBC Instagram network in the street protests of Iran (September to March 2022). The news content of 60 Instagram posts based on a qualitative approach and using conventional and directional content analysis method in an inductive way and the verification criteria of fake news of this research and their correct classification, through the "Special Line of Fars News Agency","Fact Nameh" sites,"Fact Yar"takes place.
Findings: The data obtained from the analysis of about 60 news content with the keywords "fake news", "protest", "disturbance"; 1150 data source titles were analyzed around the main and secondary questions.
 5 main categories resulting from the concepts (core codes) can be observed: 1-news credibility (news type-source) 2-creating doubt (consequences-spreading doubt) 3-producing the potential of protests and disturbances (orientation of public opinion, etc.) that have negative effects on the society and the main categories that can counter the spread of fake news: 4-Fake news detection (information war, techniques persuasiveness, etc.) and 5- media literacy (checking the video, when fake news is published, etc.)
And finally, the findings showed that the activities and provocations of the foreign language Persian media, especially the BBC network, play a direct and central role in the escalation of discontent, political activism, the spread of the virus of gatherings, the mental desecration of public opinion, vandalism, tarnishing the image of the regime and officials, and It had security and military organizations. This network represented the protests of 1401 as nationwide, ideological and purposeful protests. Nevertheless, the central role of the leadership and the system of religious authority in times of crisis caused the enemies to fail in achieving their goals, because the supreme leader of the revolution through taking a stand and directing public opinion, emphasizing the national security and independence of the country, supporting the institutions security and military, emphasis on national unity and endogenous reforms should play a key role in preventing insecurity and increasing national unity.
Results:The present research was conducted by thematic search of the words"fake news","protest", "Mehsa Amini" in more than 100 virtual pages of the BBC Persian Instagram network in connection with the unrest of 2022 and 1150 data were collected. Findings and data results of the obtained data were analyzed using Maxqda2022 software with the coding method.The results showed that the BBC Farsi Instagram channel in the rapid dissemination of fake news in 2022 It has used components that play a large role in the spread of street protests, which can be classified into 5 general categories as follows: credibility of news, detection of fake news, creating doubt, media literacy, generating the potential of protests and riots. Also, foreign media,as an arm of black propaganda, finds a conceptual relationship with the concepts of the post-truth era, information war, deception of public opinion, fake news and verification.
 
Keywords
Keywords: fake news
Iran 1401 protests
Iran riots
Mehsa Amini
qualitative content analysis
 
 
 
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Virtual space and social media studies
Volume 1, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2024
Pages 129-158

  • Receive Date 01 October 2024
  • Revise Date 17 November 2024
  • Accept Date 23 November 2024
  • First Publish Date 23 November 2024
  • Publish Date 21 November 2024