Examining the role of emotional exhaustion on susceptibility to misinformation through social media
Presentation Abstract
In the past decade, social media has infiltrated every sphere of human existence. These social networks have expanded beyond their original role, playing a critical role in disseminating information (Nguyen et al., 2012). Unfortunately, the increased digital spread of misinformation has led to cause for global concern (Del Vicario et al., 2016; WEF, 2023). Recent research has started to focus on how excessive exposure to social media can result in emotional exhaustion (Lee et al., 2016; Zheng and Lee, 2016). However, the relationship between emotional exhaustion and vulnerability to misinformation is a complex issue that is relatively unexplored. Emotional exhaustion, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental fatigue due to persistent stress, has been linked to impaired cognitive functioning and performance (Feuerhahn, 2013; Horvat and Tement, 2020). This can potentially make a person more vulnerable to the influence of misinformation, especially through social media (Wu, 2022). As this relationship was not widely researched, this research examined the extent to which emotional exhaustion played a role in susceptibility to misinformation. To test this hypothesis, participants were exposed to rounds of exclusively negative news through a simulated social media feed and then presented with misinformation. We predicted that those left feeling more emotionally drained after exposure to negative news were more likely to fall for misinformation. Results will follow.
Examining the role of emotional exhaustion on susceptibility to misinformation through social media
In the past decade, social media has infiltrated every sphere of human existence. These social networks have expanded beyond their original role, playing a critical role in disseminating information (Nguyen et al., 2012). Unfortunately, the increased digital spread of misinformation has led to cause for global concern (Del Vicario et al., 2016; WEF, 2023). Recent research has started to focus on how excessive exposure to social media can result in emotional exhaustion (Lee et al., 2016; Zheng and Lee, 2016). However, the relationship between emotional exhaustion and vulnerability to misinformation is a complex issue that is relatively unexplored. Emotional exhaustion, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental fatigue due to persistent stress, has been linked to impaired cognitive functioning and performance (Feuerhahn, 2013; Horvat and Tement, 2020). This can potentially make a person more vulnerable to the influence of misinformation, especially through social media (Wu, 2022). As this relationship was not widely researched, this research examined the extent to which emotional exhaustion played a role in susceptibility to misinformation. To test this hypothesis, participants were exposed to rounds of exclusively negative news through a simulated social media feed and then presented with misinformation. We predicted that those left feeling more emotionally drained after exposure to negative news were more likely to fall for misinformation. Results will follow.