How Adolescents Assess Misinformation Regarding Credibility: A Mixed-method Study

Abstract

<p>With the widespread of misinformation in the cyberspace, the ability to identify credible information resources has become an increasingly crucial skill for citizens. In the present era, education should assume the role in providing the young generation with the requisite skills to confront the complexities of an evolving information-driven society. This study employs a mixed-method research approach to explore students' information evaluation behaviors under the context of social media. This study finds that adolescents have a limited ability to accurately discern social media misinformation based on a sample from a public school located in Shenzhen, China. Students' previous experience related to the textual content exerts a more pronounced influence on information trust compared with headlines and sensational visualizations of social media information. This challenges the common belief that visual components provide a roadblock to critical and reflective thinking. By investigating the cognitive information evaluation processes of adolescents, this study provides insights for future research into the media and information literacy education for the young generation.<br></p>