Source Matters? Exploring the Effects of Source Congeniality on Corrections of False Information on Twitter

Abstract

This study examines the impact of source congeniality and its interaction with partisanship on the effectiveness of debunking false information on Twitter in the United States. Conducted in February 2022, a survey experiment revealed that most respondents paid little attention to correction source information. Politically congenial sources failed to enhance the effectiveness of corrective tags, whereas politically uncongenial sources and Twitter as the correction source weakened debunking’s persuasiveness, especially among Democrats. Republicans consistently exhibited higher misperception levels, unaffected by the correction source. The study highlights the persistent influence of belief-consistent false information and inattention as challenges in using corrective tags to counter false information on social media. The results underscore the need for more compelling corrections and increased public trust in debunking efforts in the United States.