Mathematical Modeling of the Spread of False Information within Social Media

Abstract

One of the societal pollutions in our environment that requires overhauling intervention is the spread of false information. In this paper, we modelled the spread of rumor in a continuous and dynamic population of five compartments. We considered an incubation period which allows rumormongers to verify the authenticity of information received before spreading. Stability analysis of the rumor-free equilibrium (RFE) and the rumor-present equilibrium (RPE) was carried out. The RPE is a function of the reproduction number R₀. In order to annihilate the rumor, the results suggest that we should reduce R₀ continuously below 1. The results are numerically validated and discussed.