Analysis of the formation mechanism of local echo chambers on social media and the fake news diffusion

In recent years, the spread of fake news in social media has heightened concerns over widening divisions in public opinion. Localized echo chambers within closed communities exacerbate polarization, presenting significant challenges to trust in digital information. This research utilizes simulations of dilemma situation to explore reliable online communication. By analyzing communication patterns and the spread of fake news across virtual and physical domains, it aims to uncover strategies for mitigation. Research on communication in a two-layered environment includes the analysis of communication dynamics in dilemma situation (Inoue et al., 2022). This study employs a dilemma game task, which adds a dilemma element to collaborative task in a grid-world constructed by Konno et al. (2013) to observe the formation process of communication systems. Building upon this environment, our research expands the scope by incorporating Instance-Based Learning Theory (Simon & Langley, 1981). The simulation entails augmenting agent populations and introducing localized clustering mechanisms to emulate the emergence of echo chambers. Additionally, a novel operational definition of fake news, rooted in game outcomes, is introduced to quantify its diffusion, and unravel the dynamics of group interactions. Through this approach, the study seeks to clarify the mechanisms underlying echo chamber formation and fake news diffusion, thereby offering valuable insights into rebuilding trust in online communication. As the research progresses, further refinement of simulation methodologies and the integration of real-world social media datasets are anticipated, aiming to provide more nuanced analyses and actionable recommendations for addressing these pressing societal challenges.