Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] This research aims to identify the multimodal features of false information in short videos and explore the influencing of the multimodal characteristics on the dissemination of false information in short videos. [Design/Methodology] This research collects short-video false information from the TikTok platform, designs an initial coding example framework of short-video false information with multimodal characteristics based on the CARS list and multimodal discourse relationship, and then contextualizes the framework based on the content of short-video false information in the Chinese context. As such, combined with the content coding, the multimodal features of short-video false information are refined. Based on this, the regression analysis method is combined to explore the key features affecting the dissemination effects of short-video false information. [Findings/Conclusion] A list of multimodal features of short-video false information in the Chinese context is constructed, covering four modal dimensions: text, audio, image, and multimodal association. The principal features and their common representations among the four modal dimensions are different ,exerting different impacts on the comprehensive dissemination effect, dissemination recognition, dissemination breadth, and dissemination participation of short-video false information. [Originality/Value] This research provides theoretical and practical support for the research on the characteristics of short-video false information, assists the identification of subsequent short-video false information, and deepens the network ecological governance.

Keywords: Short video platform, False information, Multimodal feature, Content analysis, Dissemination effect