A recent study conducted in the US, Poland, and Hong Kong found that efforts to combat false information, such as fact-checking and media literacy programs, can lead to increased public skepticism of ‘fake news’. However, these efforts also contribute to a lack of trust in legitimate, fact-based news sources.
Research indicates that although few individuals encounter misinformation in their daily lives, worries about the potential harm of “fake news” have grown in recent years. Notable events like the Capitol Riots, vaccine skepticism during the COVID-19 crisis, and the conflict in Ukraine have contributed to these concerns. Concurrently, there has been a surge in fact-checking endeavors. Leading news outlets such as BBC and CNN have integrated fact-checking into their regular content, while efforts to promote media literacy have expanded through educational initiatives aimed at helping the public distinguish between truth and falsehood.
A new study by the Universities of Zurich, California, and Warsaw reveals an unexpected paradox: the methods used to fight misinformation are actually increasing distrust in all news, even from trustworthy sources. The researchers conducted three online survey experiments with 6,127 participants in the US, Poland, and Hong Kong to assess the impact of fact-checking, media literacy initiatives, and dedicated news reporting in combating misinformation.
There were three different strategies explored in the study. The goal of the new strategies was to encourage people to critically engage with information without being overly skeptical. For example, instead of just determining if news is true or false, one of the new strategies focused on helping people understand the political biases present in news reporting.
Results from the study showed that both the traditional methods and the new strategies used to debunk myths led to a wider sense of doubt among the public, even towards information that is legitimate. The new strategies did not show a significant improvement over the traditional tactics in helping the public to distinguish fact from fiction.
than fake news,” she adds. The researchers recommend that policymakers and media professionals consider these broader implications when developing strategies to combat fake news.
Combating fake news
The study also examined potential interventions to combat fake news, such as fact-checking and media literacy programs. While these measures can be effective in correcting misperceptions, the researchers caution that they may also contribute to increased skepticism if not carefully implemented. “Fact-checking and media literacy initiatives can inadvertently reinforce the idea that all information is contested and that there is no objective truth,” explains Hoes. “This can lead to more distrust in reliable news sources and further polarization of societies.”
Future research
The researchers hope that their study will prompt further research into the potential unintended consequences of combating fake news. “We need to understand the broader societal effects of interventions designed to reduce misperceptions and combat fake news,” says Hoes. “Only by carefully considering the potential gains and harms can we develop effective strategies that strengthen rather than undermine trust in reliable news sources.”
Instead of misinformation, we need to focus on educating the public to be critical of the information they encounter,” explains Hoes. She and her colleagues are urging for a more comprehensive approach to addressing misinformation and the importance of developing thoughtful strategies. “We must educate the public on how to evaluate information with a discerning eye, without causing them to disregard credible sources and information altogether.
