Assessing misinformation recall and accuracy perceptions: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Misinformation is ubiquitous; however, the extent and heterogeneity in public uptake of it remains a matter of debate. We address these questions by exploring Americans’ ability to recall prominent misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with accuracy perceptions of these claims. Comparing reported recall rates of real and “placebo” headlines, we estimate “true” recall of misinformation is lower than self-reporting suggests, but still troubling. Supporters of President Trump, particularly strong news consumers, were most likely to believe misinformation, including ideologically dissonant claims. These findings point to the importance of tailoring corrections to address key correlates of misinformation uptake.