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On a Model of Rumors Spreading Through Social Media
Laurance Fakih1, Andrei Halanay1, Florin Avram2
1Department of Mathematics and Informatics, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2025
Summary
This study models the spread of two competing rumors on online social media (OSM). Mathematical analysis and simulations reveal factors like delays and skepticism influencing rumor persistence and public perception.
Area of Science:
- Mathematical modeling
- Social network analysis
- Information dynamics
Background:
- Rumors and false information spread rapidly on online social media (OSM).
- The spread of misinformation impacts public perception and cognition.
- Understanding rumor dynamics is crucial in the digital age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and analyze a mathematical model for the spread of two coexisting rumors on OSM.
- To determine conditions for rumor extinction or persistence.
- To investigate the influence of delays, skepticism, and incidence rates on rumor dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Development of a mathematical model for rumor propagation.
- Application of analytical tools including Routh-Hurwitz stability tests.
- Utilization of delay-induced stability switches analysis.
- Validation through MATLAB/Python simulations.
Main Results:
- Identified conditions under which rumors become persistent or die out.
- Demonstrated the significant impact of time delays on rumor spread dynamics.
- Quantified the influence of skepticism levels and incidence rates on information diffusion.
- Validated theoretical predictions with computational simulations.
Conclusions:
- The spread of rumors on OSM is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors.
- Mathematical modeling provides valuable insights into rumor dynamics and control.
- Delays, skepticism, and incidence rates are critical parameters in managing online information.
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