A new study published in PLOS One sheds light on how people respond to health-related disinformation on social media. The research suggests that people who enjoy thinking critically and analytically tend to be better at identifying false or misleading content. Political affiliation also played a role in some cases, with liberals tending to perform better than conservatives at evaluating politically charged posts. But across the board, the trait known as “need for cognition” was the strongest predictor of successfully spotting disinformation.
The study was motivated by ongoing concern about the spread of false health information online. In recent years, social media platforms have enabled widespread exposure to disinformation, including dangerous claims about vaccines, alternative cures, and public health guidance. While misinformation can be shared innocently, disinformation refers to content that is intentionally deceptive.
Acting on false health claims can have serious consequences, such as avoiding effective treatments or embracing harmful remedies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinformation campaigns contributed to poor health decisions, with some estimates linking these beliefs to thousands of preventable deaths.
Against this backdrop, researchers have become increasingly interested in why some people fall for disinformation while others do not. Past studies have pointed to a range of factors, including political beliefs, cognitive style, and personality traits....
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