When is Disinformation (In)Credible? Experimental Findings on Message Characteristics and Individual Differences. Issue 4 (3rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schaewitz, Leonie; Kluck, Jan P.; Klösters, Lukas; Krämer, Nicole C.
• Is Part Of: Mass communication & society. Volume 23:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 484
• Page End: 509
• Publication Date: 2020-07-03
• Subjects: Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Communication -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication and culture -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Médias -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Médias et culture -- Périodiques; Communication -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication et culture -- Périodiques; Presse -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication and culture; Communication -- Social aspects; Journalism -- Social aspects; Mass media and culture; Mass media -- Social aspects; Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2020.1716983
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-5436

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Disinformation on the Internet has become a major threat to our society. Especially false and inaccurate information in the form of news might have detrimental consequences for the democratic process when biasing individuals' political views. To combat disinformation, a necessary first step is to investigate the factors relevant for individuals to detected false information online. Hence, we conducted an experiment (N = 294) to investigate effects of message factors and individual differences on individuals' credibility and accuracy perceptions of disinformation as well as on their likelihood of sharing them. Results suggest that message factors, such as the source, inconsistencies, subjectivity, sensationalism, or manipulated images, seem less important for users' evaluations of disinformation articles than individual differences. While need for cognition seems most relevant for accuracy perceptions, the opinion toward the news topic seems most crucial for whether people believe in the news and share it online.