Countering Misinformation: Evidence, Knowledge Gaps, and Implications of Current Interventions

Developing effective interventions to counter misinformation is an urgent goal, but it also presents conceptual, empirical, and practical difficulties, compounded by the fact that misinformation research is in its infancy. This paper provides researchers and policymakers with an overview of which in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European psychologist 2023-07, Vol.28 (3), p.189-205
Main Authors: Roozenbeek, Jon, Culloty, Eileen, Suiter, Jane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Human
Intervention
Misinformation
Policy Making
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Developing effective interventions to counter misinformation is an urgent goal, but it also presents conceptual, empirical, and practical difficulties, compounded by the fact that misinformation research is in its infancy. This paper provides researchers and policymakers with an overview of which individual-level interventions are likely to influence the spread of, susceptibility to, or impact of misinformation. We review the evidence for the effectiveness of four categories of interventions: boosting (psychological inoculation, critical thinking, and media and information literacy); nudging (accuracy primes and social norms nudges); debunking (fact-checking); and automated content labeling. In each area, we assess the empirical evidence, key gaps in knowledge, and practical considerations. We conclude with a series of recommendations for policymakers and tech companies to ensure a comprehensive approach to tackling misinformation.
ISSN:1016-9040
1878-531X
DOI:10.1027/1016-9040/a000492