Social network operators are challenged every day to deal with the spread of misinformation. A flood of misleading claims reached us all at the beginning of the corona pandemic: Is wearing masks harmful to our health? Do nutritional supplements help against the virus, or does it not even exist?
Insecurity is spread among people through half-truths or misinformation. It is not uncommon for questionable statements to spread faster than proven facts.
But why is false information shared so often and so often, why are many of these posts so self-perpetuating?
Researchers at the University of Regina, Canada, conducted two studies.
First study: 853 test subjects, 15 correct and 15 incorrect statements
The team led by psychologist Gordon Pennycook divided the test subjects into two groups. They were presented with 15 correct and 15 incorrect statements about the coronavirus in Facebook format.
The wrong statement was that vitamin C was supposed to help against the virus, the correct statement was that Amazon wanted to take action against retailers who wanted to profit from the Corona crisis.
A group was only asked to judge whether they thought the statements were true or false.
The other group was tasked with determining whether they would share the posts on social media.
The result
Of the first group, 68 percent were correct in their assessment of what was false information or what information was correct.
The second group decided to share the posts in around 40 percent of the cases. So false information would have been spread further.
Second study: 856 test subjects, researching the background
In this second study, 856 new subjects were confronted with the same topics. This time, however, the task was to first assess whether the information was false or true. Only then should the study participants decide whether they would share them further.
Lo and behold: the willingness to share false posts decreased.
The researchers believe this is an indication that even a brief questioning of the truth makes a big difference. Not every statement was taken “as given” without being asked.
The study also showed that the hit rate of people who relied on scientific evidence when assessing posts was significantly higher.
Conclusion
So confirmation could be a key. For many users, social confirmation from others seems to be more important than the truth of a message.
The study team explains: “Social media platforms offer immediate, quantified feedback about the level of one’s own social integration, for example through a ‘like’ on Facebook.”
Related: Doctoral thesis: Are breathing masks harmful to health?
Vitamin C – The miracle weapon against the coronavirus? (Fact check)
Interim injunctions due to misleading advertising related to Corona
Source: Business Insider
Article image: Shutterstock / By durantelallera
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Notes:
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