Unequal penalties: user status dynamics in the spread of social media misinformation

Abstract How do online communities respond when users share misinformation, and do those consequences differ depending on who is speaking? Using a large panel dataset from Reddit, this study examines whether patterns of engagement vary by user status when misinformation is disseminated. We analyze 2 dimensions of engagement: net upvote scores and discursive divergence. Results reveal a notable asymmetry. Among low-status users, misinformation posts are associated with fewer upvotes and substantially higher discursive divergence. In contrast, among high-status users, misinformation posts are associated with relatively higher upvotes and lower discursive divergence. These findings suggest a status-based dynamic within social media platforms, indicating that user status hierarchies may shape how misinformation is received in digital environments.