Abstract
ABSTRACT In the current “infodemic,” surrounding the spread of false claims as well as conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, social media influencers, popular figures on platforms like Instagram, are a potential source of misinformation. As seemingly ordinary and trustworthy individuals, who can function as opinion leaders, influencers may impact perceptions of the virus and policies in place to minimize its threat. In this pre-registered online experiment (N = 148), we investigated factors such as parasocial relationships with the influencer, which potentially increase susceptibility to influencers’ claims. Second, we examined if media literacy and issue-specific knowledge act as protective factors diminishing the impact of misinformation. Although participants remained largely unaffected by the misinformation, it increased mistrust in official sources for respondents with high perceived influencer credibility, trust in influencer’s advice, and attitude homophily. Meanwhile, participants’ issue-specific knowledge was associated with weaker beliefs in misconceptions regarding COVID-19, irrespective of exposure to misinformation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
