Integrating Interpersonal Communication into the Influence of Presumed Media Influence Model: Understanding Intentions to Censor and Correct COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media

We extended the influence of presumed media influence model by taking interpersonal communication into account. Our survey (N = 642) results revealed that individuals' attention to COVID-19 information on social media and their engagement in interpersonal communication about the disease independently and jointly affected presumed others' attention. The more that individuals engaged in interpersonal communication, the less that their attention to mediated content factored into how they perceived others' attention to such content. Presumed others' attention, in turn, was positively associated with presuming that others were influenced by COVID-19 misinformation and the intention to correct, but not censor, misinformation.

Automated summary

This study extends the presumed media influence model by considering interpersonal communication. The results show that individuals' attention to COVID-19 information on social media and their engagement in interpersonal communication independently and jointly influence their perception of others' attention. This perception is positively associated with presuming others' influence by COVID-19 misinformation and the intention to correct misinformation.