Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages

Bjorn Ross; Anna Jung; Jennifer  Heisel; Stefan Stieglitz

Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages

Bjorn Ross, Anna Jung, Jennifer Heisel, Stefan Stieglitz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Warning messages are being discussed as a possible mechanism to contain the circulation of false information on social media. Their effectiveness for this purpose, however, is unclear. This article describes a survey experiment carried out to test two designs of warning messages: a simple one identical to the one used by Facebook, and a more complex one informed by recent research. We find no evidence that either design is clearly superior to not showing a warning message. This result has serious implications for brands and politicians, who might find false information about them spreading uncontrollably, as well as for managers of social media platforms, who are struggling to find effective means of controlling the diffusion of misinformation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2018)
Publisher	Association for Information Systems
ISBN (Electronic)	978-0-9966831-7-3
Publication status	Published - 16 Dec 2018
Event	39th International Conference on Information Systems - Sam Francisco, United States Duration: 13 Dec 2018 → 16 Dec 2018 https://icis2018.aisconferences.org/

Conference

Conference	39th International Conference on Information Systems
Abbreviated title	ICIS 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Sam Francisco
Period	13/12/18 → 16/12/18
Internet address	https://icis2018.aisconferences.org/

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Cite this

@inproceedings{39a0c6e64f874da6983b109305a5b3ce,

title = "Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages",

abstract = "Warning messages are being discussed as a possible mechanism to contain the circulation of false information on social media. Their effectiveness for this purpose, however, is unclear. This article describes a survey experiment carried out to test two designs of warning messages: a simple one identical to the one used by Facebook, and a more complex one informed by recent research. We find no evidence that either design is clearly superior to not showing a warning message. This result has serious implications for brands and politicians, who might find false information about them spreading uncontrollably, as well as for managers of social media platforms, who are struggling to find effective means of controlling the diffusion of misinformation.",

author = "Bjorn Ross and Anna Jung and Jennifer Heisel and Stefan Stieglitz",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

day = "16",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2018)",

publisher = "Association for Information Systems",

address = "United States",

note = "39th International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2019 ; Conference date: 13-12-2018 Through 16-12-2018",

url = "https://icis2018.aisconferences.org/",

}

Ross, B, Jung, A, Heisel, J & Stieglitz, S 2018, Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages. in Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2018)., 16, Association for Information Systems, 39th International Conference on Information Systems, Sam Francisco, California, United States, 13/12/18. <https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2018/social/Presentations/16/>

TY - GEN

T1 - Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages

AU - Ross, Bjorn

AU - Jung, Anna

AU - Heisel, Jennifer

AU - Stieglitz, Stefan

PY - 2018/12/16

Y1 - 2018/12/16

N2 - Warning messages are being discussed as a possible mechanism to contain the circulation of false information on social media. Their effectiveness for this purpose, however, is unclear. This article describes a survey experiment carried out to test two designs of warning messages: a simple one identical to the one used by Facebook, and a more complex one informed by recent research. We find no evidence that either design is clearly superior to not showing a warning message. This result has serious implications for brands and politicians, who might find false information about them spreading uncontrollably, as well as for managers of social media platforms, who are struggling to find effective means of controlling the diffusion of misinformation.

AB - Warning messages are being discussed as a possible mechanism to contain the circulation of false information on social media. Their effectiveness for this purpose, however, is unclear. This article describes a survey experiment carried out to test two designs of warning messages: a simple one identical to the one used by Facebook, and a more complex one informed by recent research. We find no evidence that either design is clearly superior to not showing a warning message. This result has serious implications for brands and politicians, who might find false information about them spreading uncontrollably, as well as for managers of social media platforms, who are struggling to find effective means of controlling the diffusion of misinformation.

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2018)

PB - Association for Information Systems

T2 - 39th International Conference on Information Systems

Y2 - 13 December 2018 through 16 December 2018

ER -

Fake News on Social Media: The (In)Effectiveness of Warning Messages

Abstract

Conference

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