Older adults more likely to share political misinformation
Study finds older adults more likely to share political misinformation due to partisanship.
Why it matters
- Older adults' partisanship leads to higher misinformation sharing.
- Misalignment with cognitive decline theories.
By the numbers
- Study sample: 2,500 adults across US and Brazil.
- Older adults (55+) more partisan and likely to share misinformation.
The big picture
- Misinformation spread influenced by partisanship, not just cognitive abilities.
- Need for interventions to reduce partisan-driven misinformation sharing.
What they're saying
- Experts suggest partisanship, not cognitive decline, drives misinformation sharing.
- Recommendations include encouraging less partisan behavior and maintaining inter-group contact.
Caveats
- Study doesn't conclude older adults knowingly share fake news.
- Findings based on self-reported likelihood to share news.
What’s next
- Encouraging less partisan behavior on social media.
- Promoting inter-group contact to reduce polarization.