Exploring the effects of location information on perceptions of news credibility and sharing intention
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In recent years, the integration of location-based services into social media platforms has seen a significant surge, coinciding with the growing challenges posed by the proliferation of fake news online. Understanding individuals' interactions with online news, particularly in the context of location information generated by platform users, has the potential to provide valuable insights into shaping the development of effective credibility indicators. To investigate this relationship, we conducted a mixed-method online study (N = 288) to determine how the proximity of those disseminating the news to both the subject matter of the news and the audience consuming it, influenced credibility assessments and sharing intentions. Our findings reveal that the proximity of the participant's location had a noticeable adverse impact on perceptions of the credibility of news and the likelihood of sharing it. Furthermore, we also identified a weak positive correlation between sharing intentions and trust in social media platforms. In addition, we show that users exhibit a deception bias towards crime and health news, but not towards science news. Our research contributes significantly to a nuanced understanding of how location-based cues impact user behaviour when interacting with online news articles. Furthermore, it provides design insights for social media platforms aiming to enhance user trust and promote pro-social behaviours.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
OpenAlex ID: W4402905532