Altay, S., Lyons, B. A., & Modirrousta-Galian, A. (2024).
Mass Communication & Society, 1–25.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2024.2382776
Abstract
In two online experiments (N = 2,735), we investigated whether forced exposure to high proportions of false news could have deleterious effects by sowing confusion and fueling distrust in news. In a between-subjects design where U.S. participants rated the accuracy of true and false news, we manipulated the proportions of false news headlines participants were exposed to (17%, 33%, 50%, 66%, and 83%). We found that exposure to higher proportions of false news decreased trust in the news but did not affect participants’ perceived accuracy of news headlines. While higher proportions of false news had no effect on participants’ overall ability to discern between true and false news, they made participants more overconfident in their discernment ability. Therefore, exposure to false news may have deleterious effects not by increasing belief in falsehoods, but by fueling overconfidence and eroding trust in the news. Although we are only able to shed light on one causal pathway, from news environment to attitudes, this can help us better understand the effects of external or supply-side changes in news quality.
Here are some thoughts:
The study investigates the impact of increased exposure to false news on individuals' trust in media, their ability to discern truth from falsehood, and their confidence in their evaluation skills. The research involved two online experiments with a total of 2,735 participants, who rated the accuracy of news headlines after being exposed to varying proportions of false content. The findings reveal that higher rates of misinformation significantly decrease general media trust, independent of individual factors such as ideology or cognitive reflectiveness. This decline in trust may lead individuals to turn away from credible news sources in favor of less reliable alternatives, even when their ability to evaluate individual news items remains intact.
Interestingly, while participants displayed overconfidence in their evaluations after exposure to predominantly false content, their actual accuracy judgments did not significantly vary with the proportion of true and false news. This suggests that personal traits like discernment skills play a more substantial role than environmental cues in determining how individuals assess news accuracy. The study also highlights a disconnection between changes in media trust and evaluations of specific news items, indicating that attitudes toward media are often more malleable than actual behavior.
The research underscores the importance of understanding the psychological mechanisms at play when individuals encounter misinformation. It points out that interventions aimed at improving news discernment should consider the potential for increased skepticism rather than enhanced accuracy. Moreover, the findings suggest that exposure to high levels of false news can lead to overconfidence in one's ability to judge news quality, which may result in the rejection of accurate information.
Overall, the study provides credible evidence that exposure to predominantly false news can have harmful effects by eroding trust in media institutions and fostering overconfidence in personal judgment abilities. These insights are crucial for developing effective strategies to combat misinformation and promote healthy media consumption habits among the public.