Skeptical of Social Sophistry
An Experiment Testing a Media Literacy Infographic on Substance-Use Misinformation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21645555 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Erica Weintraub Austin (0000-0003-2334-8918, Washington State University, corresponding author), Shawn Domgaard (0000-0003-1142-9577, Department of Communication and Media, College of Liberal Arts, Hawai’i Pacific University), Andrew D Sutherland (0009-0002-7460-1688, Washington State University), Hae Yeon Seo (0009-0004-5910-0273, Washington State University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 14 |
| Pages | 2235-2243 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-06 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2025.2538732 |
| PMID | 40721393 |
| OpenAlex | W4412727202 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
BACKGROUND: Young adults (ages 18-29) may encounter social media content that presents misinformation about substances. They may use this in their decision-making and further share this misinformation with others. OBJECTIVE: This study tests how an online media literacy intervention influences participants' perceptions of substance use misinformation. METHOD: = 1201) involving U.S. adults aged 18-29 tested whether an infographic could increase skepticism toward social media messages about substance use containing misinformation. RESULTS: The intervention significantly reduced the believability of one of the six misinformation statements tested in the study, and age differences were found in responses to misinformation. CONCLUSION: That brief exposure to an intervention shows a significant effect is promising. A stronger intervention should be designed and studied that considers the cognitive development of young adults
Cognition · Developmental psychology · Infographic · Media literacy · Misinformation · Perception · Political science · Psychiatry · Skepticism · Social cognition · Social media · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Psychology
Effects of Social Media on Adolescents’ Willingness and Intention to Use E-Cigarettes
Misinformation
Association Between Exposure to Tobacco Content on Social Media and Tobacco Use
The Potential for Narrative Correctives to Combat Misinformation†
Can Media Literacy Intervention Improve Fake News Credibility Assessment? A Meta-Analysis
Cigar Harm Beliefs and Associations with Cigar Use among Young Adults
Association Between Social Media Use and Substance Use Among Middle and High School-Aged Youth
Exposure to Pro and Anti-Cannabis Social Media Messages and Teens’ and College Students’ Intentions to Use Cannabis
Combating misinformation
Under the influence of (alcohol)influencers? A qualitative study examining Belgian adolescents’ evaluations of alcohol-related Instagram images from influencers
Disinformation as Collaborative Work
Exposure to health misinformation about Covid-19 and increased tobacco and alcohol use
Countering Misinformation and Fake News Through Inoculation and Prebunking
Teens’ Motivations to Spread Fake News on WhatsApp
Long-term Associations Between Substance Use-Related Media Exposure, Descriptive Norms, and Alcohol Use from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Smoking, stress, and negative affect
| Highly cited | No |
|---|