Fake news, information overload, and the third-person effect in China

Based on a national survey of 1111 Chinese citizens, this study analyzes how exposure to fake news and perceptions of information overload are associated with the third-person effect. The findings indicate that fake news exposure correlates with perceived information overload and third-person percep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGlobal media and China Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 492 - 507
Main Authors Tang, Shuo, Willnat, Lars, Zhang, Hongzhong
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2021
Sage Publications Ltd
Subjects
Information dissemination
Information overload
Mass media
News
Perceptions
Polls & surveys
Truth
information overload
survey
the third-person effect
China
fake news
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Summary:Based on a national survey of 1111 Chinese citizens, this study analyzes how exposure to fake news and perceptions of information overload are associated with the third-person effect. The findings indicate that fake news exposure correlates with perceived information overload and third-person perceptions of fake news. Respondents with higher levels of perceived information overload also report stronger third-person perceptions. In addition, Chinese respondents who believe that fake news affects others more than themselves are less likely to support stricter controls of fake news.
ISSN:2059-4364
2059-4372
DOI:10.1177/20594364211047369