Perceptions of mis- or disinformation exposure predict political cynicism: Evidence from a two-wave survey during the 2018 US midterm elections. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones-Jang, S Mo; Kim, Dam Hee; Kenski, Kate
• Is Part Of: New media & society. Volume 23:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 3105
• Page End: 3125
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Cynicism -- disinformation -- fake news -- midterm elections -- misinformation -- social media; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Internet -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.2305
• DOI: 10.1177/1461444820943878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-4448

Abstract

Despite a fast-growing body of literature on fake news and mis-/disinformation, there remains surprisingly little empirical work on the social/political consequences of exposure to false information. Addressing this issue, this study provides initial evidence that perceptions of false information exposure catalyze political cynicism. The findings from a two-wave panel survey during the 2018 US midterm elections reveal that perceptions of false information exposure 2 weeks before the election significantly predict the changes in political cynicism immediately after the election day. We also find that social media news use in Wave 1 significantly relates to political cynicism in Wave 2 indirectly through perceptions of mis-/disinformation exposure. The autoregressive regression model indicates that our findings are robust after controlling for prior levels of cynicism.