The impact of conspiracy endorsement on evaluations of news fakeness: An experimental study in Hong Kong

Conspiracy theories can rapidly gain traction in the digital environment, influencing public perceptions and discourse. This study investigates how conspiracy endorsement affects individuals’ evaluations of news authenticity, particularly concerning news source and news slant. Experimental data from 654 participants in Hong Kong was used, employing a 3 (news source: pro-government, neutral, anti-government) x 2 (conspiracy endorsement: low, high) and a 3 (news slant: anti-violence, balanced, pro-violence) x 2 (conspiracy endorsement: low, high) design. The findings reveal that individuals who endorse to conspiracy theories are inclined to assess news authenticity in a manner that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs, exhibiting biased evaluation based on the news source and slant. These results suggest that conspiracy endorsement, often aligning with ideological divisions, significantly increases susceptibility to misinformation and has the potential to intensify political polarization. Addressing the influence of conspiracy beliefs is crucial for mitigating their impact on societal divisions.