| |
| author |
Daniela C. Da Silva
| | title |
Misinformation Across Generations: Believability and Sharing Habits
| | abstract |
Misinformation, defined as false information lacking factual evidence, can cast doubt
about information overall. In particular, exposure to misinformation can influence what
information people believe and share. Current research shows that people who are exposed to
claims that seem blatantly false (i.e. implausible) become more likely to believe slightly more
plausible claims in comparison. Furthermore, whether a person shares misinformation online
varies by a number of factors, including age. This thesis explored the consequences of
encountering implausible misinformation to identify the effects of exposure to misinformation on
the believability and intent to share news, and how those effects might vary with age. A pilot
study was first conducted to rate the plausibility of 150 recent news headlines. A primary study
was then conducted where participants (N = 189) were either exposed to a high level of
implausible headlines or a low level of implausible headlines. Results showed that exposure to
higher rates of implausible information did not impact participants' belief in other unrelated
headlines or their intentions to share those headlines, regardless of age. However, sharing
intentions differed between older and younger adults, indicating that older adults may be slightly
less inclined to share misinformation. This study's sample did not obtain a large number of older
adults, limiting these findings. Future research should continue to explore the effects of
misinformation, particularly among vulnerable populations, and continue to explore
interventions against misinformation online.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2025)
|
| advisor |
Scott Morgan
|
| full text | DDaSilva.pdf |
| |
