Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception

Ven Hwei Lo; Grace Xiao Zhang; Miao Lu

doi:10.4324/9781003355984-6

Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception

Ven Hwei Lo^*
, Grace Xiao Zhang
, Miao Lu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Journalism

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores the consequences of exposure to debunked yet popularly circulated COVID-19 misinformation on social media in the four studied cities. Specifically, it investigates how encountering the misinformation elicits respondents’ negative emotions (e.g., anger and anxiety) and influences their risk perception for both themselves and others. Findings show that the greater the levels of exposure to, sharing of, and elaboration of misinformation, the stronger the negative emotions and biased perception of others as being influenced by the misinformation. Thinking about the harmful consequences of misinformation pushed the level of anger, anxiety, annoyance, and worry to a higher notch. Beijing respondents who were exposed to COVID-19 misinformation the most reported the highest level of negative emotions and biased perception, followed by those from Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic
Subtitle of host publication	An Asia Perspective
Editors	Ran Wei, Dong Dong, Guanxiong Huang, Yi-Hui Christine Huang, Hai Liang, Ven-hwei Lo, Sibo Wang
Publisher	Routledge
Pages	89-110
Number of pages	22
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9781000954685, 9781003355984
ISBN (Print)	9781032410470, 9781032408880
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003355984-6
Publication status	Published - 8 Sept 2023

Publication series

Name	Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies
Publisher	Routledge

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003355984-6

Cite this

Lo, V. H., Zhang, G. X., & Lu, M. (2023). Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception. In R. Wei, D. Dong, G. Huang, Y.-H. C. Huang, H. Liang, V. Lo, & S. Wang (Eds.), Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Asia Perspective (1st ed., pp. 89-110). (Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003355984-6

Lo, Ven Hwei ; Zhang, Grace Xiao ; Lu, Miao. / Conséquences of exposure to misinformation : Negative emotions and biased risk perception. Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Asia Perspective. editor / Ran Wei ; Dong Dong ; Guanxiong Huang ; Yi-Hui Christine Huang ; Hai Liang ; Ven-hwei Lo ; Sibo Wang. 1st. ed. Routledge, 2023. pp. 89-110 (Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies).

@inbook{0843895e7d2f4ec8847e0437874fc97e,

title = "Cons{\'e}quences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception",

abstract = "This chapter explores the consequences of exposure to debunked yet popularly circulated COVID-19 misinformation on social media in the four studied cities. Specifically, it investigates how encountering the misinformation elicits respondents{\textquoteright} negative emotions (e.g., anger and anxiety) and influences their risk perception for both themselves and others. Findings show that the greater the levels of exposure to, sharing of, and elaboration of misinformation, the stronger the negative emotions and biased perception of others as being influenced by the misinformation. Thinking about the harmful consequences of misinformation pushed the level of anger, anxiety, annoyance, and worry to a higher notch. Beijing respondents who were exposed to COVID-19 misinformation the most reported the highest level of negative emotions and biased perception, followed by those from Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong.",

author = "Lo, \{Ven Hwei\} and Zhang, \{Grace Xiao\} and Miao Lu",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

day = "8",

doi = "10.4324/9781003355984-6",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781032410470",

series = "Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies",

publisher = "Routledge",

pages = "89--110",

editor = "Ran Wei and Dong Dong and Guanxiong Huang and Huang, \{Yi-Hui Christine\} and Hai Liang and Ven-hwei Lo and Sibo Wang",

booktitle = "Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic",

address = "United Kingdom",

edition = "1st",

}

Lo, VH, Zhang, GX & Lu, M 2023, Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception. in R Wei, D Dong, G Huang, Y-HC Huang, H Liang, V Lo & S Wang (eds), Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Asia Perspective. 1st edn, Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies, Routledge, pp. 89-110. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003355984-6

Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception. / Lo, Ven Hwei; Zhang, Grace Xiao; Lu, Miao.
Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Asia Perspective. ed. / Ran Wei; Dong Dong; Guanxiong Huang; Yi-Hui Christine Huang; Hai Liang; Ven-hwei Lo; Sibo Wang. 1st. ed. Routledge, 2023. p. 89-110 (Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Conséquences of exposure to misinformation

T2 - Negative emotions and biased risk perception

AU - Lo, Ven Hwei

AU - Zhang, Grace Xiao

AU - Lu, Miao

PY - 2023/9/8

Y1 - 2023/9/8

N2 - This chapter explores the consequences of exposure to debunked yet popularly circulated COVID-19 misinformation on social media in the four studied cities. Specifically, it investigates how encountering the misinformation elicits respondents’ negative emotions (e.g., anger and anxiety) and influences their risk perception for both themselves and others. Findings show that the greater the levels of exposure to, sharing of, and elaboration of misinformation, the stronger the negative emotions and biased perception of others as being influenced by the misinformation. Thinking about the harmful consequences of misinformation pushed the level of anger, anxiety, annoyance, and worry to a higher notch. Beijing respondents who were exposed to COVID-19 misinformation the most reported the highest level of negative emotions and biased perception, followed by those from Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

AB - This chapter explores the consequences of exposure to debunked yet popularly circulated COVID-19 misinformation on social media in the four studied cities. Specifically, it investigates how encountering the misinformation elicits respondents’ negative emotions (e.g., anger and anxiety) and influences their risk perception for both themselves and others. Findings show that the greater the levels of exposure to, sharing of, and elaboration of misinformation, the stronger the negative emotions and biased perception of others as being influenced by the misinformation. Thinking about the harmful consequences of misinformation pushed the level of anger, anxiety, annoyance, and worry to a higher notch. Beijing respondents who were exposed to COVID-19 misinformation the most reported the highest level of negative emotions and biased perception, followed by those from Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85169342450

UR - https://www.routledge.com/Miscommunicating-the-COVID-19-Pandemic-An-Asian-Perspective/Dong-Huang-Huang-Liang-Lo-Wang-Wei/p/book/9781032408880?_gl=1*1rnmkne*_gcl_au*NjQ0MDE0Njg2LjE3NDA1NjA1NjM.*_ga*NTg4MjM2NzYzLjE3NDA1NjA1NjI.*_ga_0HYE8YG0M6*MTc0MTE2Mzc3MS40LjEuMTc0MTE2NDg5My4xNy4wLjA.

U2 - 10.4324/9781003355984-6

DO - 10.4324/9781003355984-6

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85169342450

SN - 9781032410470

SN - 9781032408880

T3 - Routledge Advances in Internationalizing Media Studies

SP - 89

EP - 110

BT - Miscommunicating the COVID-19 Pandemic

A2 - Wei, Ran

A2 - Dong, Dong

A2 - Huang, Guanxiong

A2 - Huang, Yi-Hui Christine

A2 - Liang, Hai

A2 - Lo, Ven-hwei

A2 - Wang, Sibo

PB - Routledge

ER -

Conséquences of exposure to misinformation: Negative emotions and biased risk perception

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this