Reducing Misinformation Credibility: How Explanations Impact the Effectiveness of Social Media Warning Labels and Fact-Checking Source Recall

Abstract

Social media platforms have been using warning labels to alert users of misinformation. Although research has shown that flagging can be effective in reducing the perceived credibility of false information, many social media users still believe in misinformation even after seeing a warning label. An online experiment found that explanations may enhance the effectiveness of warning labels in reducing the credibility of misinformation with high message credibility. This research also showed that explanations may increase the perceived informational utility of warning labels. In the same way, explanations of warning labels were found to boost fact-checking source recall.