Tracing the Evolution of Misinformation Narratives on Twitter During Volkswagen’s Dieselgate Scandal

Xiaolan Zheng

doi:10.6981/FEM.202508_6(8).0003

Authors

Xiaolan Zheng

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6981/FEM.202508_6(8).0003

Keywords:

Dieselgate; Misinformation; Twitter; Narrative Evolution; Crisis Communication; Social Media Analysis; Volkswagen.

Abstract

The 2015 Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal triggered a global reputational crisis, sparking widespread public backlash on social media. Twitter (now X), in particular, became a platform for both the dissemination of verified information and the propagation of misinformation. This paper explores how misinformation narratives emerged and evolved on Twitter during the first twelve months following the Dieselgate revelations. Drawing from an existing dataset of over 29,000 English-language tweets containing hashtags such as #VolkswagenScandal, #VWScandal, and #EmissionsGate, the study employs qualitative thematic analysis to identify the dominant frames, rhetorical strategies, and temporal shifts in public discourse. The findings show that misinformation on Twitter during Dieselgate often took the form of conspiracy narratives, misattributions of blame, and exaggerated claims about environmental and health consequences. These narratives evolved in three identifiable phases, shaped by external news events and the communicative silence of Volkswagen’s official channels. This study contributes to the growing body of research on digital misinformation by offering a temporal and thematic mapping of how public opinion can be shaped during corporate crises in the age of social media.

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