Comparative Approaches to Mis/Disinformation| Belief in or Identification of False News According to the Elaboration Likelihood Model

Abstract

Based on the elaboration likelihood model, this study examines the influence of central and peripheral cues on a user’s belief in or identification of false news and investigates the direct and moderating effects of information literacy. The results indicated that argument quality enables social media (SM) and news website (NW) users to identify false messages. Topical relevance contributed to a user’s belief in false news (BFN) in the SM group but had no impact in the NW group. Image appeal had no impact in either group. Source credibility was associated with BFN in the SM group. Additionally, source credibility and homophily contributed to the identification of false messages in the NW group. Information literacy enabled individuals to identify false information only in the NW group, but it had no moderating effect on the relationship between informational cues and BFN.