Zong Qianjin, Huang Zifeng
[Purpose/Signifcance] A Longitudinal study on the evolution of rumor-refuting information diffusion in social media helps clarifying the diffusion mechanism of rumor-refuting information.[Method/Process] This paper collected the retweeting data of the rumor-refuting information about the nationwid e rainstorm which was posted by an ofcial micro-blog named@renmi nwang. Based on the frequencies of retweeting, the diffusion process of the rumor-refuting information was divided into three periods, including outbreak period, peak period, and declining period. Tis paper also constructed the evolution network of rumor-refuting information diffusion in social media and analyzed its mechanism by using Social Network Analysis.[Result/Conclusion] The main fndings are as followings. Firstly, the evolution path from the outbreak to the extinction of the rumor-refuting information diffusion in social media is found to undergo three different social networks successively as followings. Afer the rumor-refuting information is published, it will be diffusing rapidly in the poster's tight social network in a very short period time. Subsequently, it diffuses in the loose social networks between the opinion leaders and their fans. At last, it diffuses in the tight social networks among the fans of the opinion leaders and the friends of the fans until it is extinct. Secondly, the density of rumor-refuting information diffusion network is always low in outbreak period, peak period, and declining period. Tirdly, unlike rumor diffusion in micro-blog, most of actors of rumor-refuting information diffusion network have no interactions. Fourthly, compared with opinion leader of government, the rumor-refuting information posted by individual opinion leader can evoke the perceptual sympathetic response of audiences, and promote the rumor-refuting information diffusing widely.