Polarization or Mainstreaming? How COVID-19 News Exposure Affects Perceived Seriousness of the Pandemic and the Susceptibility to COVID-19 Misinformation?

Two surveys investigated whether the exposure to COVID-19 news widens (polarization) or narrows (mainstreaming) the partisan gap in perceived seriousness of the pandemic, and how the perception affects individuals’ susceptibility to COVID-19 misinformation that either exaggerates or downplays its he...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Han, Jiyoung, Lee, Eun-Ju
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2023
Materias:
Research Articles
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10372506/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37521770
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10755470231186396
Descripción
Sumario:Two surveys investigated whether the exposure to COVID-19 news widens (polarization) or narrows (mainstreaming) the partisan gap in perceived seriousness of the pandemic, and how the perception affects individuals’ susceptibility to COVID-19 misinformation that either exaggerates or downplays its health risks. Overall exposure to COVID-19 news homogenized the partisans’ otherwise divergent risk perceptions, but the partisan divide was wider among those selectively approaching like-minded news outlets. Perceived seriousness of COVID-19 subsequently altered participants’ susceptibility to either fear-arousing or fear-suppressing COVID-19 misinformation in a belief-confirming manner. It is discussed how news media shape the public’s reality perception amid the global crisis.

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