In the wake of the UK’s recent riots, social media platforms are under fire for perpetuating misinformation, disinformation, and hateful content. This note outlines behavioural factors that point to the need for platform and system-wide interventions to combat misinformation.
Underpinning this note is analysis from a survey of 2,000+ UK adults, conducted between 16 August 2024 – 19 August 2024.
Social media platforms are hotbeds for false information. 74% of social media users in our survey reported seeing some false information in the week prior on at least one of the social media platforms they use.
The way platforms are designed can not only facilitate but amplify the flow of false information and hateful content. Algorithms designed to maximise user engagement show users content that aligns with existing beliefs. This is often sensational and emotionally charged, creating echo chambers in which false information thrives.
The ‘paradox of passivity’ means passive consumption of content could be more harmful than people think. Many social media users consume media passively, scrolling and absorbing content without critical consciousness, active engagement, or fact-checking. Over time, passively-absorbed content accumulates and – when combined with confirmation bias, availability bias, and our tendency to believe something is true the more it is repeated (illusory truth effect) – the risk that users begin to believe false information increases.
