Testing Logic-based and Humor-based Corrections for Science, Health, and Political Misinformation on Social Media

Abstract

Misinformation causes a range of negative impacts. One proposed solution is applying critical thinking techniques to neutralize misinformation by explaining its misleading techniques or logical fallacies. This study tests the efficacy of corrections after exposure to misinformation that adopt inoculating techniques. We test two forms of rhetorical correction—logic-based and humor-based—across the issues of climate change, gun control, and HPV vaccination. We find that results vary across topics, with both logic-based and humor-based corrections reducing misperceptions only for HPV vaccination. More research is needed to test the efficacy of logic-based and humor-based corrections across different issues.