Exposing the Shadows: Discursive Insights from X Netizens on Academic Paper Mills

While paper mills have garnered substantial attention, little is known about how social media, especially X, aids in identifying these fraudulent practices. This study explores how users of X reveal and critique academic fraud by analyzing 24 tweets selected for engagement on paper mill-related topics. Thematic content analysis categorizes tweets by content type, tone, context, fraudulent activity, and target audience. The findings show that most tweets adopted a critical (36.67%) or exposing (13.33%) tone, signalling the widespread of academic concern. Major topics included selling authorship (13.64%) and general paper mill operations (22.73%), with discussions emphasizing academic integrity (35.29%) and fraudulent mechanisms (26.47%). Key stakeholders targeted by these tweets included academics (16.18%), publishers (14.71%), and researchers (14.71%), underscoring the community’s vigilance in preserving research ethics. The study highlights social media’s effectiveness in fostering transparency and collective accountability within academia, while noting the challenges in fully utilizing it for fraud detection. Future research should explore organized and collaborative approaches to leverage social media to combat academic fraud.