Correcting Misinformation Across Continents: Evidence From Simultaneous Experiments

Working in concert with fact-checking organizations around the world, we are planning to administer fact-checking experiments in Argentina, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom simultaneously. Subjects will be randomly assigned to see a mix of seven fake stories and factual corrections. In each country, two of the fake stories will be global--that is, identical to stories vended in all countries. In each country, the remaining five stories and factual corrections will be country-specific. We will randomize exposure to both the fake stories and the corrections. In each country, subjects will see both 0-7 fake stories, and 0-7 corrections. No subject will see a correction for which he or she did not first see a fake story. All subjects will then be asked to respond to two questions about each item: A 5-point agree-disagree scale about the propositions advanced by all fake stories and a 5-point scale in which they are asked to assess the truth or falsehood of each item. In Argentina, South Africa and the United Kingdom, subjects will then be recontacted 7-14 days later to measure the extent to which any effects endured.