Study Links Problematic Social Media Use to Higher Fake News Susceptibility

A groundbreaking study from Michigan State University has revealed that individuals who experience significant distress and impairment from excessive social media use are substantially more likely to believe and interact with fake news. The research, published in the journal PLOS One, establishes a clear behavioral connection between problematic social media habits and vulnerability to misinformation.

“Social media are everywhere in our daily lives, and some people display problematic, excessive use of these platforms,” said Dar Meshi, an associate professor and co-author of the study. “We found that this overuse is associated with a greater tendency to believe in and engage with misinformation.”

The experiment, funded by MSU’s Trifecta Initiative, involved 189 participants aged 18 to 26 who were presented with 20 news stories formatted as social media posts. Half of these stories were factual, while the other half contained false information, with the presentation order randomized to prevent bias.

Researchers Meshi and Maria D. Molina, both faculty members in MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, measured participants’ credibility judgments of these posts, their intentions to interact with them, and their degree of problematic social media use. The findings revealed a consistent pattern: individuals exhibiting symptoms of problematic social media use were more inclined to believe fake news was true, interact with all news posts regardless of accuracy, and click specifically on fake news posts.

“False news has become a hotly debated and researched topic because of its availability to be shared and spread over social media,” Molina explained. “Over 60% of people in the U.S. read content on social media, and research has demonstrated that false news disseminates over social media at a greater rate than real news.”

The study distinguishes between misinformation (unintentionally distributed false content) and disinformation (deliberately distributed deceptive content), both of which flow freely through social media ecosystems. What makes this research particularly valuable is its focus on measuring intended user actions—clicking, liking, commenting, and sharing—rather than just attitudes toward fake news.

While the American Psychiatric Association doesn’t currently recognize problematic social media use as a clinical disorder, Meshi points out that it shares notable similarities with substance use and other behavioral addictive disorders. “People who display problematic social media use may feel bad if they can’t access it, and they might even return to it after trying to quit. This kind of behavior has been linked to job loss, poor grades and mental health issues,” he said.

The findings have significant implications across multiple sectors. For mental health professionals, the research offers a new lens through which to evaluate patients struggling with social media addiction. Healthcare providers in various specialties might benefit from understanding how a patient’s social media habits could influence their susceptibility to health-related misinformation.

“Individuals with signs of problematic social media use may also be more susceptible to health-related misinformation, so clinicians specializing in different fields may benefit from awareness of their patients’ degree of social media use,” noted Molina.

The study also offers potential pathways for tech companies and policymakers working to combat the spread of misinformation online. “By identifying people who are more likely to believe fake news, we can help reduce its spread,” Meshi suggested. “Researchers could work with social media companies to find ways to help these users and limit their exposure to fake news.”

As digital platforms continue to serve as primary information sources for millions worldwide, understanding the relationship between problematic use patterns and misinformation vulnerability becomes increasingly crucial for public discourse, democratic processes, and mental health interventions.