CURING THE INFODEMIC: SELF AND SOCIAL CORRECTIONS ON INSTANT MESSAGING PLATFORMS

Abstract

Misinformation is an increasingly rampant issue within both global and local contexts. The growing popularity of instant messaging platforms (IMPs) have made them attractive conduits for misinformation; this is largely due to the ease of message sharing and user privacy that prevents platform intervention. Hence, reducing misinformation on these platforms greatly rely on active participation from the entire network of IMP users. This thesis aims to understand reactions to misinformation, and factors influencing users’ correction of misinformation as both senders and receivers. 35 semi-structured interviews with Singapore youths aged 21-25 were conducted as youths were deemed to have the greatest propensity to actively engage in misinformation correction. Interviews were then transcribed and qualitatively analysed using a constant comparison approach. By drawing upon the politeness theory and impression management theory to understand social, cultural, and individual-level factors, findings revealed a proclivity for self-corrections when youths were senders of misinformation but a disinclination to social corrections. Findings also uncovered the factors of optimism bias, face-saving considerations, uneven power structures and personal barriers in influencing social corrections; as well as the factors of optimism bias, impression management and perceived personal responsibility in influencing self-corrections. The results are valuable in elucidating the intricate misinformation arena and informing misinformation correction strategies. Practical and policy recommendations for motivating youths to correct misinformation are proposed.