Educated but easily fooled? Who falls for misinformation and why
Researchers recently reported that it may be unfair to portray older adults as more vulnerable to fake news, analysis which found that they were actually better than younger adults at distinguishing between true and false headlines. The work provides important information for theory building and designing interventions to mis- and disinformation. Photo by Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Phys.org / Max Planck Institute
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development have identified who is most susceptible to online misinformation and why. Their meta-analysis reveals surprising patterns in how demographic and psychological factors—including age, education, political identity, analytical thinking, and motivated reflection—affect people's ability to assess the accuracy of information.
For instance, individuals with higher levels of education are just as likely to fall for misinformation as those with a lower level of education. The work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides important information for theory building and designing interventions.
Nearly 5 billion people worldwide receive their news from social media, and the impact of misinformation—especially on elections—is of increasing concern. Despite extensive research, it remains largely unclear who is particularly vulnerable to misinformation and why.
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