Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Research on the Formation Mechanism of Reversed News Based on the Social Combustion Theory

Yankun GuoHebei University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

With the rapid rise of the Internet and new media, reversed online public opinion has become increasingly common, challenging public cognition and the principle of news authenticity. From the perspective of social combustion theory, this paper explores the mechanisms behind such reversals. Reversed public opinion resembles a "combustion" process: "combustible materials" are factors causing social instability, "accelerants" include social media platforms and public emotions, and the "ignition temperature" represents sudden impactful events. Once public emotions reach a tipping point, reversed news emerges rapidly. Self-media often rush to publish unverified information in pursuit of traffic, becoming a key source of reversals. Journalists lacking professional ethics and objectivity further intensify the phenomenon. The public, influenced by cognitive biases and emotional triggers, inadvertently amplifies these reversals during dissemination. To reduce the societal harm of reversed news, mainstream media should guide public opinion by restoring facts through authoritative reporting. Journalists must adhere to ethical principles of objectivity and truth, while the audience should enhance media literacy, approach news critically, and avoid spreading unverified information. Collaborative efforts are essential to fostering a healthy and orderly media environment where online public opinion serves societal development

Keywords: Reversed News; Social Combustion Theory; Mechanism; Online Public Opinion; Public Opinion Heat
Published: January 7, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.19788
Volume: CHR Vol.65
pp. 41-49
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