Abstract
Using survey data from 154,195 respondents in 142 countries, we investigate internet user perceptions of the risks associated with being exposed to misinformation. We find that: 1) The majority of regular internet users globally (58.5%) worry about misinformation, and young and low-income groups are most likely to be concerned. 2) Risk perception among internet users varies starkly across regions whereby concern is highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (74.2%), and lowest in South Asia (31.2%). 3) Differences are unrelated to the prevalence of misinformation, yet concern is highest in countries with liberal democratic governments. We discuss implications for successful policy and platform interventions.
Citation
@article{Knuutila2022,
author = {Knuutila, Aleksi and Neudert, Lisa-Maria and Howard, Philip N.},
doi = {10.37016/mr-2020-97},
journal = {Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review},
month = {April},
shorttitle = {Who is afraid of fake news?},
title = {Who is afraid of fake news? Modeling risk perceptions of misinformation in 142 countries},
url = {https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/?p=9181},
urldate = {2022-11-25},
year = {2022}
}