Disinformation awareness via SMS? Exploring a new modality for boosting adult media literacy

Abstrak / Ringkasan

<p>Given a rapidly evolving disinformation environment, many initiatives are currently being developed to counter the harmful impacts of disinformation. The aim of this study is to explore how an SMS intervention, as a hitherto untested modality for raising awareness of disinformation with promising potential and wide reach, could boost media literacy among adults. We probe the effects on a national sample of adult Swedish respondents (<em>N</em> = 2536). An initial survey is followed by a five-week text messaging intervention and concluded with a second survey. Respondents’ objective ability to identify false information, and their subjective perceptions of attitude and behavioral change are analyzed. Our findings suggest that knowledge on disinformation can be enhanced, and that self-reported verification of news can be increased. Participants’ test scores on discerning true and false news headlines could also improve. Our results lay the groundwork for future research aimed at determining causal effects.</p>

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