Skeptical of Social Sophistry: An Experiment Testing a Media Literacy Infographic on Substance-Use Misinformation
Erica Weintraub Austin1, Shawn Domgaard2, Andrew D Sutherland3
1Edward R. Murrow Center for Media & Health Promotion Research, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Background:
Young adults (ages 18-29) may encounter social media content that presents misinformation about substances. They may use this in their decision-making and further share this misinformation with others.
Objective:
This study tests how an online media literacy intervention influences participants' perceptions of substance use misinformation.
Method:
An online between-groups experiment (N = 1201) involving U.S. adults aged 18-29 tested whether an infographic could increase skepticism toward social media messages about substance use containing misinformation.
Results:
The intervention significantly reduced the believability of one of the six misinformation statements tested in the study, and age differences were found in responses to misinformation.
Conclusion:
That brief exposure to an intervention shows a significant effect is promising. A stronger intervention should be designed and studied that considers the cognitive development of young adults.
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