Ability of detecting and willingness to share fake news

By conducting large-scale surveys in Germany and the United Kingdom, we investigate the individual-level determinants of the ability to detect fake news and the inclination to share it. We distinguish between deliberate and accidental sharing of fake news. We document that accidental sharing is much more common than deliberate sharing. Furthermore, our results indicate that older, male, high-income, and politically left-leaning respondents better detect fake news. We also find that accidental sharing decreases with age and is more prevalent among right-leaning respondents. Deliberate sharing of fake news is more prevalent among younger respondents in the United Kingdom. Finally, our results imply that respondents have a good assessment of their ability to detect fake news: those we identified as accidental sharers were also more likely to have admitted to having shared fake news.

Automated summary

By conducting large-scale surveys in Germany and the United Kingdom, the study examines the factors that influence individuals' ability to detect fake news and their tendency to share it, distinguishing between deliberate and accidental sharing. The findings suggest that accidental sharing is more common than deliberate sharing, and that older, male, high-income, and politically left-leaning respondents are better at detecting fake news. Additionally, accidental sharing decreases with age and is more prevalent among right-leaning respondents, while deliberate sharing of fake news is more prevalent among younger respondents in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the results indicate that respondents have a good assessment of their ability to detect fake news, as those identified as accidental sharers were more likely to admit to having shared fake news.