UNESCO Study Finds Most Social Media Influencers Fail to Fact-Check Content

A survey of 500 influencers reveals widespread misinformation vulnerabilities and highlights the need for media literacy training.

UNESCO's report found that 62% of surveyed influencers do not verify the accuracy of information before sharing it with their audiences.
Influencers often rely on personal experiences or popularity metrics, such as likes and views, rather than credible sources to evaluate content.
Only 17% of influencers prioritize documentation and evidence when assessing the credibility of information they share.
The study emphasizes the urgent need for media literacy education, with UNESCO launching a free online course for influencers to improve fact-checking and content creation skills.
The findings raise concerns about the influence of unverified content on public discourse, particularly as social media becomes a primary news source for younger audiences.