Combating Misinformation on Climate Change Using Virtual Reality

• In Event: Innovations in Misinformation Research and Remedies

Abstract

Our research examines the potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences as a means to counter climate change misinformation. By creating VR simulations of future climate scenarios, we can visually depict the potential impacts of rising temperatures and sea level rise on communities and ecosystems. Additionally, VR offers a unique sense of presence in experimental settings that surpasses other intervention platforms. Our objective is to determine whether immersive VR can achieve more effective correction outcomes compared to social media. To investigate this, we employ a mixed longitudinal experimental design, manipulating the provision of correction through either VR or social media. We measure the impact of these interventions on belief in and skepticism toward climate change, as well as the utilization of corrected misinformation for inferential reasoning at three different points over a month. To contribute to the existing literature on misinformation interventions, we gather separate samples from the Netherlands and Turkey for our study. Furthermore, we explore the effectiveness of human actors and the level of embodiment in the VR experience as strategies to combat climate change misinformation and investigate how different modes of exposure to correction affect the policy attitudes and policy-relevant behavior on climate change.

Authors

• Elif Erisen, Yeditepe University

• Funda Yildirim, University of Twente