How Anxiety and Partisanship Influence the Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape our lives, we rely more and more on social media to stay informed. However, with so much information available online, it can be challenging to determine what is accurate and what is not. Recent research suggests that motivated reasoning and anxiety can shape how we make sense of information on social media, and this is especially true during times of high uncertainty.

Motivated reasoning is the tendency to accept information that confirms our existing beliefs while dismissing information that contradicts them. When we encounter information that supports our political views, we are more likely to believe it and share it without verifying its accuracy. This can lead to the spread of misinformation, which can be dangerous in the context of a public health crisis like COVID-19.

Anxiety, on the other hand, can make us more open to a variety of messages, including those that we might otherwise dismiss. In times of crisis, anxiety levels can skyrocket, and this can encourage us to share information more readily to help others.

In a recent study published in New Media & Society, researchers explored how motivated reasoning and anxiety work together to influence how people respond to COVID-19 information online. They conducted an experiment in which they asked 719 participants about their political views and anxiety levels. They then showed all participants a series of six Facebook posts about COVID-19, including two that contained false information.

The researchers found that both Republicans and Democrats were more likely to believe false claims that confirmed their political views. However, highly anxious Republicans were especially susceptible to misinformation. Interestingly, highly anxious Republicans were also more likely to believe accurate and fact-checked information than Democrats.

These findings suggest that misinformation and polarization problems are more nuanced than we might think. Moving forward, we should focus on crafting truthful messages that speak directly to different groups' priorities and value systems. By tailoring messages to different groups, we can better reach them and mitigate the spread of misinformation.

In conclusion, as we approach the 2024 election with emotions running high, we should be aware of the influence of anxiety and partisanship on the spread of COVID-19 misinformation on social media. By understanding the complex interplay of these factors, we can better navigate the online landscape and make informed decisions to protect ourselves and our communities.