Radicalization of Immigration Stances on Twitter: An Analysis of Disinformation Concepts and User Typologies

This study explores the radicalization of immigration discourse on Twitter, with a focus on the spread of disinformation within the Spanish-speaking community. Using a mixed-methods approach, combining network analysis and user influence evaluation, we analyze a corpus of 264,567 Spanish-language tweets on immigration, collected through automated random sampling. The aim is to investigate how disinformation narratives are disseminated, who the key influencers are, and how interactions amplify these messages. The study employs network analysis to map user connections, identify key influencers, and evaluate centrality metrics to measure user influence. The findings reveal that disinformers tend to coordinate their efforts more effectively than users sharing accurate information. By examining narrative patterns in user biographies, we distinguish between those promoting fact-based information and those spreading disinformation. The results show that disinformation narratives, often driven by extreme right-wing actors, gain traction among highly influential users. These key users, identified through network centrality, help amplify disinformation, leading to greater radicalization of the discourse. Additionally, the research uncovers the high permeability of disinformation, indicating that it spreads easily among users with fewer followers, further polarizing the debate. This study highlights the importance of identifying influential disinformers and understanding the dynamics of information diffusion. It suggests that addressing disinformation requires targeted strategies, focusing on the specific narratives and user groups responsible for spreading misinformation about immigration. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on mitigating polarization and combating disinformation on social media platforms.