Rumor is an unsubstantiated and possibly false story that spreads quickly from one person to the next in a community. Whether it is true or false, it can cause significant disruption for both individuals and the community as a whole, often for reasons that are not entirely clear.
While rumors can be spread in many ways, they are especially powerful when shared through social media channels where they may reach large numbers of people very quickly. This means that it is important to be vigilant about the information you choose to share.
It is also important to understand the dynamics of a rumor so that you can identify it and stop it from spreading. Rumors can be categorized according to the following criteria:
Novelty: The core claim in the rumor must contain both something old (e.g., familiar) and something new to motivate sharing (e.g., discarded ballots). Ideally, the novelty is so extreme that it will cause a great deal of attention and interest.
Movement: The rumor must be moving from one source to the next, preferably through a network of people. This could be a simple case of someone passing the rumor on to their friends, or it might be more complex such as a news organization spreading it through its outlets. A strong mover can be a good indicator that the rumor has the potential to spread far and wide.
Dramatic Detail: The dramatic nature of a core claim in the rumor can motivate people to pass it along because it generates excitement and fear. In addition, it can trigger emotional responses such as anger and surprise.
Clarity: The rumor must be sufficiently clear for people to understand the details. If it is too complicated or vague, people will be confused and may not be able to accurately relay the information to others.
Ambiguity: People are more likely to engage with a rumor that has the potential to impact outcomes they care about. This is why it is important to make sure that the rumor is specific and has an impact on the issue at hand.
The above factors can be combined to create a threat framework that highlights the potential for a particular rumor to become viral. For example, if a rumor is focused on specific election processes or locales that have been the focus of prior rumors, it may be more likely to gain traction and become widespread. To counter this, election officials and other stakeholders should work to anticipate rumor risks and develop plans to respond quickly.