Abstract
This study seeks to understand how online discussion, fact-checking, and sources of fact-checks will influence individuals’ risk perceptions toward nuclear energy when they are exposed to fake news. Using a 2 × 3 experimental design, 320 participants were randomly assigned to one of the six experimental conditions. Results showed an interaction effect between online discussion and exposure to fact-checking, in which online discussion lowered individuals’ risk perception toward nuclear energy when a fact-check was unavailable. Of those who participated in the online discussion, those who viewed a fact-check posted by traditional media have higher risk perception as compared to those who viewed a fact-check posted by a fact-check organization. Our findings indicate that different fact-checking sources can have differential effects on public risk perceptions, depending on whether online discussion is involved. To curb the spread of fake news, different fact-checking strategies will need to be deployed depending on the situation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2569-2583 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Risk Analysis |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2022 |
Keywords
- fact-check
- fake news
- nuclear energy
- online discussion
- risk perception