Fake news, real risks: How online discussion and sources of fact‐check influence public risk perceptions toward nuclear energy. Issue 11 (27th June 2022) - Ho, Shirley S.
Abstract: This study seeks to understand how online discussion, fact‐checking, and sources of fact‐checks will influence individuals' risk perceptions toward nuclear energy when they are exposed to fake news. Using a 2 × 3 experimental design, 320 participants were randomly assigned to one of the six experimental conditions. Results showed an interaction effect between online discussion and exposure to fact‐checking, in which online discussion lowered individuals' risk perception toward nuclear energy when a fact‐check was unavailable. Of those who participated in the online discussion, those who viewed a fact‐check posted by traditional media have higher risk perception as compared to those who viewed a fact‐check posted by a fact‐check organization . Our findings indicate that different fact‐checking sources can have differential effects on public risk perceptions, depending on whether online discussion is involved. To curb the spread of fake news, different fact‐checking strategies will need to be deployed depending on the situation.