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Debunking "Fake News" on Social Media: Short-Term and Longer-Term Effects of Fact Checking and Media Literacy Interventions

Author

Listed:
  • Lara Berger

    (University of Cologne)

  • Anna Kerkhof

    (University of Munich, ifo Institute for Economic Research, and CESifo)

  • Felix Mindl

    (University of Cologne and iwp Institute for Economic Policy)

  • Johannes Münster

    (University of Cologne)

Abstract

We conduct a randomized survey experiment to compare the short-term and longer-term effects of fact checking to a brief media literacy intervention. We show that the impact of fact checking is limited to the corrected fake news, whereas media literacy helps to distinguish between false and correct information more generally, both immediately and two weeks after the intervention. A plausible mechanism is that media literacy enables participants to critically evaluate social media postings, while fact checking fails to enhance their skills. Our results promote media literacy as an effective tool to fight fake news, that is cheap, scalable, and easy-to-implement.

Suggested Citation

  • Lara Berger & Anna Kerkhof & Felix Mindl & Johannes Münster, 2023. "Debunking "Fake News" on Social Media: Short-Term and Longer-Term Effects of Fact Checking and Media Literacy Interventions," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 262, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:262
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econtribute.de/RePEc/ajk/ajkdps/ECONtribute_262_2023.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Covid; Facebook; fact checking; fake news; media literacy; misinformation; nutrition; social media; supplements; survey experiment; vaccine;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy

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