Abstract

Recent strides in Generative AI technology have also contributed to the creation and spread of deepfake, thereby contributing to misinformation. This study investigates individuals’ emotional responses to real news, fake news (deepfakes), and debunked videos by analyzing user comments from short videos across Chinese platforms. Employing Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions and Appraisal Theory, we examine eight basic emotions to uncover nuanced differences in responses elicited by each video type. Our findings indicate that real news videos generate higher levels of anticipation, joy, and trust compared to fake news, while fake news evokes stronger fear and surprise. Debunked videos, conversely, produce generally weaker emotional responses relative to both real and fake news. These results highlight the complex interplay between video content and user sentiment, underscoring the need for improved strategies to mitigate the spread of misinformation and its emotional impact in the digital age. Findings contribute to future misinformation management efforts.

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