Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information
The rapid spread of social media on the Internet has resulted in strong changes in the information and communication landscape. Their inadequate use has given rise to new discussions on truth and post-truth, what is trustworthy and what is questionable, the credibility of messages and their sources....
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad de Navarra
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.unav.edu/publicaciones/revistas/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/37823 |
| _version_ | 1818218812423536640 |
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| author | Estrella Gualda José Rúas |
| author_facet | Estrella Gualda José Rúas |
| author_sort | Estrella Gualda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid spread of social media on the Internet has resulted in strong changes in the information and communication landscape. Their inadequate use has given rise to new discussions on truth and post-truth, what is trustworthy and what is questionable, the credibility of messages and their sources. Through this article we aim to examine what citizens believe about the information they receive and if they feel whether or not there is withholding of information. This will be achieved through data obtained from a survey of a statistically representative sample of the Andalusian population over the age of 18 (1,103 respondents, with a maximum margin of error of +/- 3%). One of the main results of this research is the serious lack of credibility of the information received, as many Andalusians (68.1%) believe that information is withheld from them. We have also observed several factors explaining a greater likelihood of finding a high belief in the conspiracy theory on the withholding of information. Finally, the article reflects on the consequences of mistrust in information and we propose an inter- and transdisciplinary approach in order to counteract this mistrust. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:29:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfa5e9bc53e8402c8f3bbacd4bb05e2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2386-7876 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:29:42Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Navarra |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad) |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfa5e9bc53e8402c8f3bbacd4bb05e2e2022-12-22T00:33:03ZengUniversidad de NavarraCommunication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad)2386-78762019-03-0132117919310.15581/003.32.1.179-19333457Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in informationEstrella GualdaJosé RúasThe rapid spread of social media on the Internet has resulted in strong changes in the information and communication landscape. Their inadequate use has given rise to new discussions on truth and post-truth, what is trustworthy and what is questionable, the credibility of messages and their sources. Through this article we aim to examine what citizens believe about the information they receive and if they feel whether or not there is withholding of information. This will be achieved through data obtained from a survey of a statistically representative sample of the Andalusian population over the age of 18 (1,103 respondents, with a maximum margin of error of +/- 3%). One of the main results of this research is the serious lack of credibility of the information received, as many Andalusians (68.1%) believe that information is withheld from them. We have also observed several factors explaining a greater likelihood of finding a high belief in the conspiracy theory on the withholding of information. Finally, the article reflects on the consequences of mistrust in information and we propose an inter- and transdisciplinary approach in order to counteract this mistrust.https://www.unav.edu/publicaciones/revistas/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/37823credibilitytrustworthinessdisinformationconspiracy theoriespost-truth. |
| spellingShingle | Estrella Gualda José Rúas Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad) credibility trustworthiness disinformation conspiracy theories post-truth. |
| title | Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information |
| title_full | Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information |
| title_fullStr | Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information |
| title_short | Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information |
| title_sort | conspiracy theories credibility and trust in information |
| topic | credibility trustworthiness disinformation conspiracy theories post-truth. |
| url | https://www.unav.edu/publicaciones/revistas/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/37823 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT estrellagualda conspiracytheoriescredibilityandtrustininformation AT joseruas conspiracytheoriescredibilityandtrustininformation |