Credibility of Social Media

袁怡婷 1155087465

李曦子 1155087468

林菁华 1155084365

Definition of Media CredibilityIt refers to the media’s quality and ability of

deserving to be believed and trusted by audiences.

It is an important measure to judge media’s expertise, trustworthiness and social influence.

Ranking of Mainland Media Credibility

According to the “2016 Media Credibility Survey”, the most credible media is television, then newspaper.

Provincial Level TV Station Newspaper with over Million Circulation

Ranking of Mainland Social Media Credibility

Weibo ranks higher than Wechat

• various public opinion platform

• self-purification

• only limited in a small interpersonal circle

• people will accept the news from close persons

Outline of Social Media’s credibility discussion

Focus on Weibo,the most active social media platform in Mainland China

Main types of media account in WeiboCurrent credibility of these accounts with examplesHow to improve the media credibility

Main types of media account in Weibo

Account of traditional news and magazines (eg: 央视新闻，人民日报，环球时报，凤凰网，新华网）Account of professional person in different domain 俗称大 V

(eg: 著名记者 ,律师 ,教授… )

Account of We Media (eg: 段子手、普通吃瓜群众）

Let’s discuss this three kinds of accounts’ credibility.

Account of traditional news and magazines

This kind of account has higher credibility than others. Keep the high reputationThey supervise each other They have reliable resourceThey screen information which is for publishing more

strictly.

The top five reliable media mostly belong to traditional news media.

Account of professional person in different domain

Operating by professional person with authentication.

Sometimes they will guide the public opinion to the wrong way.

They have lots of followers, spreading information quickly.

Some examples

From 大 V

EXAMPLE 乔任梁去世新闻事件大V 引导舆论让受众盲目相信

During the G20 Meeting, when Obama and the US delegation arrived in China, a Chinese lawyer on Weibo wrote a message……

When you see this microblog, where does this video taken do you think?

1.China2.USA3.Ohter Countries

When some public on Weibo began to blame the G20 and the Party with bias , the fact appeared……

The Truth is……In Berlin, Germany.

Although the lawyer Xu Xin tried to explain his opinion, but the public didn't trust him because the release time and content are obvious guidance and tendencies.

Those events show clearly that the Public Intellectuals try to guide public opinion to let us complain about the government and the party.

Comments from netizen

As more professionals are rumors, people's trust of their opinions is declining.

Account of We Media

Has the lowest credibilityFollowing others blindlySome accounts publish false news for

attracting attention

EXAMPLE OF WITHOUT CREDIBILITY

As we-media becoming more and more popular, people usually publish news without verifying their authenticity.

Everyone has right to publish news in personal account, it is hard to supervise.

Some we-media account has much more followers than 大 V. It always influenced more people, when they

published false news.

HoweverEven the we-media has lowest credibility, but they don’t have a trustful identity, accounts of professional persons and traditional media will have much more effects.

If accounts of professional persons and traditional media published false news, the media credibility will lose quickly.

How government do to improve social media credibility?

Policy Making编造虚假信息，或者明知是编造的虚假信息，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布，起哄闹事，造成公共秩序严重混乱的，依照刑法第二百九十三条第一款第（四）项的规定，以寻衅滋事罪定罪处罚。两高司法解释规定，利用信息网络诽谤他人，同一诽谤信息实际被点击、浏览次数达到 5000次以上，或者被转发次数达到 500次以上的，应当认定为刑法第 246条第 1款规定的“情节严重”，可构成诽谤罪

How government do to improve social media credibility?

Close accountEg： Ren Zhiqiang, because of the inappropriate words, the state Internet information office urged Sina close his account.

How individual do to contribute to a healthier online environment?

Improving ability of identifying the authenticity of news

Pay more attention to personal behavior

Report the false news firmly

Thank you for listening!