Table 1.

Summary of the key theoretical studies

Studies	Context of FN, SM, and SA	Research aims	Summary/main outcome	Relationship to FN, SM, and SA	Benefit to FN, SM, and SA
(Burkhardt, 2017; Kapoor et al., 2018; Kim et al., 2019; Pan et al., 2017; Venkatraman et al., 2018; Vosoughi et al., 2018)	Verification/fact checking	Establishing a system or processes dedicated to authenticating the content in the news and its intentions	Comparing multiple platforms, users; and FN; evaluating and analyzing data using specific analytic techniques to derive results	Finding associations from the FN literature to support the meta-framework in this research	Supporting the investigation of the relationships defined regarding the attributes in the FN construct
(Brummette et al., 2018; Chang et al., 2014; George et al., 2018; Kim & Dennis, 2019; Kwon et al., 2017; Leong et al., 2015; Sommariva et al., 2018)	SM platforms	Understanding the operations of platforms, analyzing the spread and cascading of news, and observing patterns in users’ consumption behavior	Applying key fact-checking and cascading indicators to evaluate FN and content on SM platforms	Finding associations from the SM literature to support the meta-framework in this research	Supporting the investigation of the relationships defined regarding the attributes in the SM construct
(Barrett et al., 2016; Brennen, 2017; Burkhardt, 2017; Fang et al., 2013; Kapoor et al., 2018; Lazer et al., 2018; Posetti & Matthews, 2018; Tandoc et al., 2018)	Society	SA strategies, models, and implementations incorporating news content, content processes, and transmission	This holistic approach compares traditional news processes with modern news processes as well as traditional news verification and validity with modern verification and validity	Finding associations from the SA literature to support the meta-framework in this research	Supporting the investigation of the relationships defined regarding the attributes in the SA construct
(Ragin, 2013; Ragin & Pennings, 2005)	Fuzzy set	A set theoretic technique designed for set theory analysis by creating patterns of attributes defined by numerous features and generating outcomes on the construction of relationships	Complementarity and equifinality testing by generating consistency and solution coverage	The combination system supports relationships among the FN, SM, and SA constructs	A holistic approach targeting new attributes in the three constructs’ mapping to establish relationships among collecting data, testing theory, and producing outcomes
(Chen et al., 2015; Kumar et al., 2018; Kwon et al., 2017; Roozenbeek & van der Linden, 2019; Venkatraman et al., 2018)	Technology	Development of a hybrid intelligent system that supports fact-checking and uses SM and information management	The system was empirically assessed with SM platforms’ decision-makers. The results showed that the hybrid system supported strategy development	An understanding of how technology is supporting the fight against the spread of FN and challenges in its use	Society helping reduce the spread and cascading of FN; understanding fact-checking and verifying news

Note: SA = Societal acceptance