Identifying Credible Sources in Social Media
People seek, share, and receive travel information from a wide variety of sources, such as transportation companies and agencies, insurance and manufacturing companies, family and friends, media, educational materials, advertisements, and the internet—including social media. As with any other scientific research, transportation research is susceptible to “misinformation” and “disinformation”. This is either information that conflicts with the best scientific evidence available at the time, or a coordinated or deliberate effort to spread misinformation.
The National Academy of Medicine released a paper to inform and stimulate discussion on identifying
credible sources of health information on social media. While it focuses on health, many strategies noted are equally applicable to transportation information.
TRB resources are also available to help you start your research with the best information.
This Summary Last Modified On: 8/11/2021