Can We Trust Social Media?

Abstract

The paper presents a social media debate and introduces four position papers on social media as information sources. False information, uneven quality of information, bias, manipulation, and insufficient control of false information are the main reasons against trusting information on social media. Providing a level playing field for all voices, disseminating information efficiently, making valuable information more accessible, and balancing the power in scholarly communication are the reasons for trusting information on social media. The paper also examines the reasons for social media use and applies the concept of trust from e-commerce management literature to assess social media information.

KEYWODS::

• trust
• credibility
• social media use
• social media debate
• information evaluation criteria