Online misinformation and everyday ontological narratives of social distinction

Bibliographic Data

ID11269002
AuthorsNatalie-Anne Hall (0000-0002-7848-9673, Loughborough University, corresponding author), Andrew Chadwick (0000-0002-5155-8173, Loughborough University), C Vaccari (0000-0003-0380-8921, Loughborough University)
Year2024
Volume46
Issue3
Pages572-590
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedia Culture & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-4437 • E-ISSN: 1460-3675
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01634437231211678
OpenAlexW4388773411
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited33

Most research into online misinformation has investigated its direct effects—the impact it may have on citizens’ beliefs and behavior. Much less attention has been paid to how citizens themselves make sense of misinformation as a broader social problem. We integrate theories of narrative, identity, cultural capital, and social distinction to examine how people construct the problem of misinformation and their orientation to it. We show how people engage in everyday ontological narratives of social distinction . These involve making a variety of discursive moves to position one’s “taste” in information consumption as superior to others constructed as lower in a social hierarchy. This serves to enhance social status by separating oneself from misinformation, which is presented as “other people’s problem.” We argue that these narratives have significant implications not only for citizens’ vigilance toward misinformation but also their receptiveness to interventions by policymakers, fact-checkers, news organizations, and media educators

Cognitive psychology · Misinformation · Narrative · Political science · Salience (neuroscience · Social group · Social identity theory · Social media · Sociology · Media Studies and Communication · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access