Knowledge is Power…to misinform: Examining how knowledge gaps affect engagement with COVID-19 misinformation

Authors

Ben Wasike, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

This study examined how the knowledge gap hypothesis (KGH), the belief gap hypothesis (BGH), partisan media use, and interpersonal discussion affected COVID-19 knowledge and social media engagement (SME) with related misinformation. The KGH partially affected knowledge and reduced SME with misinformation regarding income. The BGH increased knowledge and reduced SME with misinformation among Liberals. Right-leaning media use and interpersonal discussion increased SME with misinformation respectively. Overall, knowledge was inversely associated with SME with misinformation.

Comments

© 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Recommended Citation

Wasike, Ben. "Knowledge is Power… to misinform: Examining how knowledge gaps affect engagement with COVID-19 misinformation." Social Sciences & Humanities Open 10 (2024): 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100941

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Publication Title

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100941