Exploring Concerns of Fake News on ChatGPT: A Network Analysis of Social Media Conversations

The emergence of ChatGPT represents a pivotal moment in artificial intelligence, yet there are ongoing concerns about its potential misuse for spreading false information. This study explores these issues and highlights the crucial role of social networks in influencing technological developments. Through a social network analysis of tweets collected over 22 weeks, we identify an engaged community voicing worries about fake news generated by ChatGPT, particularly in politics, journalism, and healthcare. Text analysis further supports these concerns regarding the tool's role in fake news dissemination. A supplementary analysis on Reddit, nearly two years after ChatGPT’s launch, reveals a slight decline in negative sentiment regarding fake news on the tool, though concerns persist, with user sentiments remaining similar to those on platforms like Gemini and Copilot. This research primarily captures the perspectives and sentiments of early adopters of ChatGPT regarding its capacity to produce fake news, explores how social networks shape the narrative around this tool and emphasizes the necessity for stricter regulations. Implications to research and practice are discussed.