Abstract
The middle media (viral media) play a significant role in spreading fake news and the formation of political echo chamber. However, there is little statistical discussion on the role of middle media on SNS and their contribution to the echo chamber on an individual media basis. We selected the top 155 media with the highest information diffusion power on Twitter, regardless of field, and observed user diffusion behavior over a three-month period. Cluster groups (right-wing, center/left-wing, IT/business, culture, and sports) derived from the media relationship network constructed by the diffusion tendencies of the same users indicated the presence of political polarization on Twitter. Traditional mass media tended to provide a wide range of information to a broad audience, while middle media tended to provide more information favored by specific segments of the population, playing complementary roles. The presence of political middle media with medium-sized information diffusion power and high fixed user rates among right-wing groups confirmed a relatively strong echo chamber, and the contribution of middle media to its reinforcement was considered. This study reveals the characteristics of middle media and asymmetry between right-wing and left-wing based on diffusion power on Twitter.
