Preview of Research Trends on Malicious Information, Long-Term Conspiracy Theory Diffusion Mechanisms and Public Health Risks Volume 60- Issue 4

Yasuko Kawahata*

• Rikkyo University, Faculty of Sociology, Japan

Received: January 23, 2025; Published: February 18, 2025

*Corresponding author: Yasuko Kawahata, Rikkyo University, Faculty of Sociology, 3-34-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshimaku, Tokyo, 171-8501, Japan

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2025.60.009474

Abstract PDF

There has been a long tradition of improving an oral hygiene using plant products, in the treatment of various diseases. These plant products have various pharmacological actions like antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antianxiety, antinociceptive, etc, after clinical trials are done and due to this Ayurveda is gaining its importance in dentistry. The herbs and essential oils are available in different forms and their preparations are used to treat various mucosal lesions. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar and contents were screened from 1999 to 2024 by going through the title and abstract and full text reading, a total 44 articles were selected for final review. Thus, this article aims to review the prospects and perspectives of use of Ayurveda in Dentistry as a whole.

Keywords: Ayurvedic; Doshas; Herbs; Essential Oils; Dentistry

In the digital sphere, Malicious Information possesses mechanisms for instantaneous and widespread propagation, leading to escalating risks that affect society holistically, including political and economic ramifications. The impact of Malicious Information is particularly concerning in public health domains, where the entrenchment of scientifically unfounded information has contributed to elevated health risks [1]. This section previews a systematic review of mathematical models for Malicious Information dissemination and their societal implications, with particular emphasis on conspiracy theory emergence mechanisms and public health risks, followed by a discussion of countermeasures and analytical methodologies derived from previous research. The proliferation of social media platforms has substantially heightened the risk of rapid Malicious Information and conspiracy theory dissemination [2]. Instances of fake news potentially constituting public health Malicious Information are abundant. Studies dating back to 1920s America have documented how such phenomena can trigger mental disorders and neuroses, subsequently impacting national economic and welfare conditions. However, the viral nature of Malicious Information spread across social networks presents unprecedented societal challenges, with propagation mechanisms of extraordinary complexity. Current simulation approaches face computational limitations. Therefore, this paper synthesizes classical theoretical research trends in Malicious Information propagation, with specific attention to the emergence and dissemination mechanisms of conspiracy theories and their associated public health risks.

Classical Models

The propagation process of Malicious Information has traditionally been explicated through three theoretical frameworks. Primary among these is the Daley- Kendall model (1964) [3] of rumor transmission, which categorizes populations into three states:” Ignorant,”” Spreader,” and” Stifler,” analyzing their interactions. Subsequently, the Maki-Thompson model (1973) [4] enhanced this framework by incorporating more sophisticated interaction dynamics.

Contemporary Approaches

Recent analytical methods have emerged utilizing scale-free networks and hypergraphs [5]. These novel theoretical frameworks provide crucial insights, particularly in analyzing collective information transmission across social networks. The hypergraph model exhibits notable advantages in accurately representing many- to-many communications characteristic of group chats and forums.

Information Operations and Deliberate Instigation

The genesis of conspiracy theories involves multiple intertwined factors. Information Operations [2] sometimes serve as vehicles for deliberate Malicious Information dissemination, typically motivated by military or political objectives aimed at destabilizing opposing forces.

Mass Suggestion and Emotional Catalysis

From a social psychological perspective, mass suggestion [6] plays a crucial role in collective emotional responses. Provocative posts can function as triggers, initiating cycles of reposting and modification that enable unverified information to evolve into conspiracy theories. Research has documented phenomena where masses simultaneously experience directional emotional impulses [7].

Information Drift and Recursive Editing

Info-drift [8] describes the progressive alteration of information until its original form becomes indiscernible. This phenomenon parallels the” embellishment” and” anecdotalization” processes observed in rumor and gossip studies, where prolonged recursive editing cycles serve as foundational mechanisms for conspiracy theory generation. Information Laundering and Hierarchical Legitimization Freedman’s [9] concept of Information Laundering elucidates how unverified information acquires legitimacy through transmission across multiple media out- lets and celebrity endorsements, ultimately achieving factual status. This hierarchical legitimization process carries the risk of information being perceived as” incontrovertible fact” once mainstream media outlets report it.

The aforementioned Info-drift phenomenon entails gradual information modification until the original form becomes universally unrecognizable [8]. This process, analogous to” embellishment” and” anecdotalization,” establishes sustained recursive editing cycles as fundamental generators of Malicious Information. Moreover, through Information Laundering processes, unverified information acquires legitimacy via transmission through multiple media outlets and celebrity endorsements, ultimately achieving the status of established fact [9]. This graduated legitimization serves as a long-term catalyst, transforming initial rumors into substantial societal beliefs. A distinctive characteristic of Malicious Information propagation lies in its exploitation of cognitive biases. Notably, confirmation bias facilitates the preferential absorption of” desired information,” leading to further reinforcement [10]. Additionally, social media functionalities such as” likes” and” retweets” facilitate increased exposure frequency- a prerequisite for rumor transmission-while promoting multi-generational modification (reedits). These mechanisms potentially exacerbate ingroup cohesion and outgroup exclusion, raising concerns about societal fragmentation [11].

Mechanisms of Panic Propagation

According to [12], panic propagation manifests as a process where individuals amplify fear and anxiety beyond factual circumstances in response to disaster or accident reports, exhibiting excessive reactions. This phenomenon shares similarities with [13] ’s moral panic theory and essentially overlaps with collective behavioral disruption caused by false rumors. In public health contexts, particular emphasis is placed on cases triggered by mass media and official information agency misreporting, representing instances where phenomena similar to fake news and rumor propagation are designated under different terminology.

Resistance to Refutation and Long-term Persistence Mechanisms

Research by [14] demonstrates that once disseminated, Malicious Information becomes extraordinarily resistant to correction, becoming deeply embedded in individual beliefs and prejudices. Public health-related conspiracy theories notably exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Deliberate disregard of scientific evidence

2. Systematic cultivation of distrust toward experts

3. Collective resistance mechanisms against contradictory evidence

4. Reinforcement and crystallization of confirmation bias

Influence of Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience [10] characteristically acquires credibility through long-term repetition of identical claims, gradually assuming scientific authenticity. Vaccine conspiracy theories exemplify this phenomenon, where persistent rumors accumulate credibility within specific communities, effectively functioning as Malicious Information.

Echo Chamber Effects

Social media and search engine algorithms create environments where users previously exposed to Malicious Information become increasingly susceptible to receiving similar content [11]. This accelerates information drift and laundering processes, establishing” closed ecosystems” resistant to external fact- checking.

Deepening Social Division

The proliferation of conspiracy theories contributes to social fragmentation [15]. The mechanism of division through labeling” that group believes Malicious Information”-parallels historical patterns where rumors and gossip induced social segregation.

While strengthening fact-checking capabilities represents the most direct countermeasure, establishing the credibility of fact-checking organizations and personnel remains crucial. Considering the information laundering process, when Malicious Information remains uncorrected in its initial stages, subsequent fact- checking struggles to overturn” established beliefs.” Thus, this paper’s central challenge presents a highly complex issue requiring long-term solutions. In the social media era, individuals can become primary disseminators of false rumors and Malicious Information, emphasizing media literacy education as a critical long-term preventive approach. Specifically, education must emphasize understanding recipients’ susceptibility to cognitive biases and algorithmic tendency to present self-reinforcing information. The emergence and propagation of Malicious In- formation, particularly conspiracy theories, represents a complex phenomenon inexplicable through simple information transmission models. Multiple mechanisms operate in intricate layers: deliberate instigation through information operations, emotional triggering via mass suggestion, content transformation through information drift, and hierarchical legitimization via in- formation laundering. Public health-related Malicious Information, in particular, carries profound societal im- plications requiring urgent countermeasures. Future research necessitates a comprehensive approach incorporating network theory and hypergraph theory while integrating social psychological insights.

This study was written after reviewing the Life Science Ethics Checkpoints. I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the many doctors and others in- volved in this research for their guidance and advice, as well as to the local medical facilities that support our family on a daily basis. I would also like to express my gratitude to the doctors, pharmacists, and many other medical professionals who were involved in the psychiatric treatment of the author’s long-lasting relationship. I would also like to thank the LLM developers for their efforts and all their wisdom.

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