Work

Misinformation is both a symptom and a cause: Reply to Altay and Mercier (2026).

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In their commentary, Altay and Mercier (2026) frame misinformation as a mere symptom of deeper underlying societal problems. Here, we highlight a more nuanced causal account involving reciprocal effects, where misinformation can act as a cause of societal issues, which in turn can simultaneously act as a cause of misinformation belief. When it comes to the total causal impact of misinformation, we note the importance of taking into account not only the direct but also the indirect effects. Viewing misinformation as both a symptom and a cause offers an opportunity for appropriate policy interventions depending on the behavior, context, and misinformation in question. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: American Psychologist

DOI: 10.1037/amp0001622

Authors: Li Qian Tay, Sander van der Linden, Jon Roozenbeek, John Cook, Naomi Oreskes, Stephan Lewandowsky, Ullrich K. H. Ecker

Institutions: Australian National University, University of Cambridge, King's College London, The University of Melbourne, Harvard University, University of Bristol, The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: University of Western Australia

OpenAlex ID: W7129357267

FWCI: 24.42

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Cited by: 2

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