Article 2: Misinformation on Social Media

Question 1

Define discernment

Answer 1

difference in accuracy judgement between true and false headlines

Question 2

Why do people share false claims about COVID-19?

Answer 2

because they fail to think enough about whether the content is accurate
when they decide to share

Question 3

What do the findings of Study 1 in the article show?

Answer 3

We are far worse at discerning true/false when sharing on social media than when we are asked directly about accuracy

Question 4

What do the findings of Study 2 in the article show?

Answer 4

A simple accuracy reminder at the beginning of the study tripled the level of truth discernment

Question 5

The results on COVID fake news mirror the results found for political fake news.

True or False?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What are the worst consequences of misinformation?

Answer 6

causes people to turn to ineffective, potentially harmful remedies, overreacting,
under-reacting, etc.

Question 7

People generally wish to avoid spreading misinformation but still do so. Why?

Answer 7

because the social media context focuses their attention on factors other than accuracy.

> > distraction from considering accuracy.

Question 8

We don’t know how to assess veracity.

True or False?

Answer 8

False.

we know how to assess veracity, we are just distracted and forget to do
so.

Question 9

science knowledge reinforces accuracy.

True or False?

Answer 9

True.

positive correlation with belief in true
headlines, negative correlation with belief in false headlines

Question 10

Define medical maximizers

Answer 10

people predisposed to seek health care even for minor
problems.

Question 11

How do medical maximizers react to misinformation?

Answer 11

Greater belief in both true and false headlines about Covid-19, more
likely to consider sharing both true and false headlines to the same degree.

Question 12

How does difference in political party effect people’s response to misinformation?

Answer 12

republicans are less likely to share both true and false headlines, but
less likely to share true headlines relatively to Democrats.

Question 13

What are the effects of a nudge about veracity?
(As shown in study 2)

Answer 13

sharing for true headlines higher than
for false headlines, made participants more likely to consider accuracy when
deciding whether to share.