The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking
The increasing amount of information online makes it challenging to judge what to believe or discredit. Fact-checking unverified claims shared on platforms, like social media, can play a critical role in correcting misbeliefs. The current study demonstrates how the effect of fact-checking can vary b...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Harvard Kennedy School
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/the-presence-of-unexpected-biases-in-online-fact-checking/ |
| _version_ | 1818922713038716928 |
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| author | Sungkyu Park Jaimie Yejean Park Jeong-han Kang Meeyoung Cha |
| author_facet | Sungkyu Park Jaimie Yejean Park Jeong-han Kang Meeyoung Cha |
| author_sort | Sungkyu Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing amount of information online makes it challenging to judge what to believe or discredit. Fact-checking unverified claims shared on platforms, like social media, can play a critical role in correcting misbeliefs. The current study demonstrates how the effect of fact-checking can vary by several factors. We show that fact-checking helps self-correct one’s views among young adults. However, this effect is weaker for individuals who perceived the claim negatively at first. Furthermore, borderline messages like “Lack of Evidence” can be perceived as false rather than neutral. We explain these biases via human cognitive mechanisms that avoid risk and uncertainty. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:57:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bdb5bb9ce3fe4bcc99ae8157d0281640 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2766-1652 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:57:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Harvard Kennedy School |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-bdb5bb9ce3fe4bcc99ae8157d02816402022-12-21T19:57:26ZengHarvard Kennedy SchoolHarvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review2766-16522021-01-012110.37016/mr-2020-53The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checkingSungkyu Park0Jaimie Yejean Park1Jeong-han Kang2Meeyoung Cha3Data Science Group, Institute for Basic Science, South KoreaMobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics, South KoreaDepartment of Sociology, Yonsei University, South KoreaSchool of Computing, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South KoreaThe increasing amount of information online makes it challenging to judge what to believe or discredit. Fact-checking unverified claims shared on platforms, like social media, can play a critical role in correcting misbeliefs. The current study demonstrates how the effect of fact-checking can vary by several factors. We show that fact-checking helps self-correct one’s views among young adults. However, this effect is weaker for individuals who perceived the claim negatively at first. Furthermore, borderline messages like “Lack of Evidence” can be perceived as false rather than neutral. We explain these biases via human cognitive mechanisms that avoid risk and uncertainty.https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/the-presence-of-unexpected-biases-in-online-fact-checking/fact-checkingfake newssocial media |
| spellingShingle | Sungkyu Park Jaimie Yejean Park Jeong-han Kang Meeyoung Cha The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review fact-checking fake news social media |
| title | The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking |
| title_full | The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking |
| title_fullStr | The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking |
| title_full_unstemmed | The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking |
| title_short | The presence of unexpected biases in online fact-checking |
| title_sort | presence of unexpected biases in online fact checking |
| topic | fact-checking fake news social media |
| url | https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/the-presence-of-unexpected-biases-in-online-fact-checking/ |
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