About the project
False political information on social media is a critical problem, with profound consequences for society. Much of the spread of false material is due to the actions of ordinary social media users who encounter it, then forward it on to their social networks. While only a minority of individuals engage with false information, they have the effect of greatly amplifying its reach. It is therefore important to understand why people do this and what sets them apart from those who do not. Little is known about people's motivations for doing this. This project directly asks people why they have – deliberately or unwittingly – spread false information. It will also explore individual differences (personal characteristics) that may make people more or less likely to share false information. The relative importance of these motivations and individual differences as determinants of sharing disinformation in everyday life will be examined.
Funding body
The project is funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant and runs from January 2022 – January 2024.
Investigators
Professor Tom Buchanan
Dr Rotem Perach
Dr Deborah Husbands