Recent studies have explored how the purveyors of problematic information can mobilize online crowds by tapping into positive feelings like amusement, belonging, and optimism. Unfortunately, it is not clear how such participation and emotions can also help communities reduce the spread of problematic information. We address this gap by examining how a group of Japanese social media “watchers” monitored and countered YamatoQ, a pro-QAnon Japanese conspiracy group. We analyze interviews with 12 watchers to make empirical contributions about the how, where, and why of their activities. Participants describe a playful approach to confronting problematic information, whereby they leverage a sense of improvisation, humor, and community to meet the challenges of their work. These results extend our knowledge of volunteer efforts to address problematic information, and expand the range of perspectives represented in the literature regarding the participatory and emotional aspects of problematic information.

中文翻译：

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动态：日本社交媒体“观察者”如何即兴创作以对抗有问题的信息


最近的研究探讨了有问题信息的提供者如何通过利用娱乐、归属感和乐观情绪等积极情绪来动员在线人群。不幸的是，目前尚不清楚这种参与和情绪如何也能帮助社区减少有问题信息的传播。我们通过研究一群日本社交媒体“观察者”如何监控和对抗亲 QAnon 的日本阴谋组织 YamatoQ 来解决这一差距。我们分析了对 12 位观察者的采访，以对他们的活动方式、地点和原因做出实证贡献。参与者描述了一种面对有问题信息的有趣方法，他们利用即兴创作、幽默和社区来应对工作中的挑战。这些结果扩展了我们对志愿者解决有问题信息的努力的了解，并扩大了文献中关于有问题信息的参与性和情感方面所代表的观点范围。