Deep strategic mediatization: Organizational leaders’ knowledge and usage of social bots in an era of disinformation

作者：

Highlights：

• The study reported in the paper reveals first indication regarding the status quo of bot communication in Europe.

• Theoretically, it is based on mediatization theory and strategic communication and introduces the concept of deep strategic mediatization.

• A minority of the leading professionals in Europe uses social bots. In total only 4% of the sample know that their organization uses social bots.

• Social bots are seen primarily as threat for the society and organization that will lead to new ethical challenges.

摘要

•The study reported in the paper reveals first indication regarding the status quo of bot communication in Europe.•Theoretically, it is based on mediatization theory and strategic communication and introduces the concept of deep strategic mediatization.•A minority of the leading professionals in Europe uses social bots. In total only 4% of the sample know that their organization uses social bots.•Social bots are seen primarily as threat for the society and organization that will lead to new ethical challenges.

论文关键词：Social bots,Algorithmic PR,Automated PR,Strategic communication,Deep strategic mediatization,Automation,Comparative research

论文评审过程：Received 3 April 2019, Revised 18 November 2019, Accepted 18 November 2019, Available online 25 November 2019, Version of Record 24 February 2020.

论文官网地址：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.102042