[Purpose/significance] This paper examines related domestic and foreign references that research the development and future trends of online rumors in social media environment, and provides some guidance for the management of online rumor and academic research. [Method/process] This paper utilizes the methods of literature analysis and knowledge map visualization analysis to compare and visualize the origins and development of online rumor research, research hotspots, and future research trends in China and abroad.[Result/conclusion] From the perspective of research development trends, the number of relevant domestic and foreign references has been increasing. Foreign studies mainly focus on the spread of online rumors, the monitoring of social media online rumors, and the reasons for spreading social media online rumors. Domestic research studies mainly focus on three aspects: propagation models of social media online rumors, social media emergencies of online rumors, and different kinds of social media platforms online rumors .From the perspective of research trends, the future research will focus on the governance of blockchain
technology in social media online rumors, the usage of machine learning technology in social media online rumors and the management the aged of social media online rumor.