Study Finds Psychological 'Booster Shots' Improve Resistance to Misinformation
Research shows memory-boosting interventions can help people better detect and resist misinformation over time, though effects diminish without reinforcement.
- A study involving over 11,000 participants tested three misinformation-prevention methods: text-based messages, videos, and a gamified approach.
- All three methods improved participants' ability to detect and resist misinformation, but the effects of video and game-based interventions faded within two weeks, while text-based effects lasted up to a month.
- Researchers found that memory retention was key to sustaining misinformation resistance, and periodic 'booster' interventions significantly extended the effects of the initial training.
- The study highlights the potential for scalable misinformation resistance strategies that integrate memory-boosting techniques into public education and digital literacy programs.
- Experts emphasize the importance of collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and social media platforms to implement these interventions at scale.
IFLScience 
CNN 