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Negative Downstream Effects of Alarmist Disinformation Discourse : Evidence from the United States
Jungherr, Andreas; Rauchfleisch, Adrian (2024): Negative Downstream Effects of Alarmist Disinformation Discourse : Evidence from the United States, in: Bamberg: Otto-Friedrich-Universität, S. 2123–2143.
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Year of publication:
2024
Pages:
Source/Other editions:
Political Behavior, 46 (2024), 4, S. 2123-2143. - ISSN: 1573-6687
Year of first publication:
2024
Language:
English
Abstract:
The threat of disinformation features strongly in public discourse, but scientific findings remain conflicted about disinformation effects and reach. Accordingly, indiscriminate warnings about disinformation risk overestimating its effects and associated dangers. Balanced accounts that document the presence of digital disinformation while accounting for empirically established limits offer a promising alternative. In a preregistered experiment, U.S. respondents were exposed to two treatments designed to resemble typical journalistic contributions discussing disinformation. The treatment emphasizing the dangers of disinformation indiscriminately (T1) raised the perceived dangers of disinformation among recipients. The balanced treatment (T2) lowered the perceived threat level. T1, but not T2, had negative downstream effects, increasing respondent support for heavily restrictive regulation of speech in digital communication environments. Overall, we see a positive correlation among all respondents between the perceived threat of disinformation to societies and dissatisfaction with the current state of democracy.
GND Keywords: ; ; ;
USA
Desinformation
Demokratie
Politische Unterstützung
Keywords: ; ; ; ; ;
Disinformation
Discourse
Regulation
Democracy
Media effects
Experiment
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Peer Reviewed:
Yes:
International Distribution:
Yes:
Type:
Article
Activation date:
December 20, 2024
Permalink
https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/105534