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A groundbreaking study by Michigan State University researchers has revealed a concerning connection between problematic social media use and susceptibility to misinformation. According to findings published in the journal PLOS One, individuals who experience the most distress and impairment from excessive social media consumption are significantly more likely to believe and engage with fake news.
“Social media are everywhere in our daily lives, and some people display problematic, excessive use of these platforms,” explained Dar Meshi, 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.”
Meshi and co-author Maria D. Molina, both faculty members in MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, designed a comprehensive experiment involving 189 participants aged 18 to 26. Subjects were presented with 20 news stories formatted as social media posts—half legitimate news and half fabricated—delivered in random order.
The researchers measured participants’ credibility judgments of these posts, their intentions to interact with the content through clicks, comments, likes, and shares, and assessed their degree of problematic social media use.
The results were striking. Individuals displaying symptoms of problematic social media use demonstrated higher likelihood to believe fake news was true, interact with all news posts regardless of authenticity, and specifically click on fake news posts.
This finding carries significant implications in today’s information landscape, where misinformation spreads rapidly through digital channels. Molina noted, “False news has become a hotly debated and researched topic because of its availability to be shared and spread over social media. Over 60% of people in the U.S. read content on social media, and research has demonstrated that false news is disseminated over social media at a greater rate than real news.”
The researchers distinguish between misinformation—false content shared unintentionally—and disinformation, which is deliberately distributed to deceive audiences. Their study appears to be the first examining how problematic social media use correlates with trust in fake news by measuring intended user actions.
While the American Psychiatric Association doesn’t formally recognize problematic social media use as a clinical disorder, Meshi points out that it shares key characteristics with substance use and other behavioral addictions.
“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,” Meshi explained. “This kind of behavior has been linked to job loss, poor grades and mental health issues.”
The implications extend beyond individual wellbeing. The researchers suggest their findings could help mental health professionals working with clients struggling with social media dependence. Healthcare providers across specialties may need to consider patients’ social media habits when addressing vulnerability 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,” said Molina.
The study could also inform broader efforts to combat the spread of false information online. Government agencies, organizations, and social media companies might develop targeted strategies based on these insights.
“By identifying people who are more likely to believe fake news, we can help reduce its spread,” Meshi said. “Researchers could work with social media companies to find ways to help these users and limit their exposure to fake news.”
As social media continues to dominate information consumption patterns, understanding the psychological factors that make individuals vulnerable to misinformation becomes increasingly critical for public health, digital literacy, and democratic discourse.
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8 Comments
The findings that problematic social media use is linked to increased susceptibility to misinformation are worrying. This underscores the need for digital literacy education and better content moderation on social platforms. We can’t let misinformation continue to run rampant.
Agreed. Tackling misinformation has to be a collaborative effort between tech companies, policymakers, educators, and users themselves. Raising awareness and developing critical thinking skills is crucial.
Interesting study on the link between excessive social media use and susceptibility to misinformation. It makes sense that people who are overly immersed in social platforms might have a harder time discerning fact from fiction. Curious to see what other factors contribute to this issue.
Absolutely, the findings underscore the importance of digital literacy and critical thinking skills when navigating the online world. Social media platforms need to do more to combat the spread of misinformation as well.
Interesting study, though not entirely surprising. The more time people spend on social media, the more vulnerable they may become to believing and spreading misinformation. Platforms need to step up their efforts to identify and remove false content.
Misinformation spreading through social media is a major challenge. While this study focuses on the individual-level impacts, the broader societal implications are quite concerning. We need a multi-pronged approach to address this issue at the platform, policy, and personal levels.
Problematic social media use seems to be a growing concern, especially among younger generations. This study highlights an alarming consequence – the increased likelihood of falling for misinformation. Platforms need to find ways to foster healthier social media habits.
Well said. Moderation and mindfulness when using social media are key. Individuals should also be proactive about verifying information before sharing or engaging with it online.