To Forward or Not to Forward? The Effect of WhatsApp Labels on Misinformation

• In Event: The Online and Offline Effect of Misinformation

Abstract

The consumption and dissemination of false or misleading information on closed messaging apps like WhatsApp is an urgent issue, given its global popularity. To tackle this, social networks like WhatsApp have introduced labels for forwarded content to warn users and curb the spread of unverified information. In a pre-registered online survey experiment conducted in the UK in 2022 (N = 1250, Prolific), we tested the impact of “Forwarded” and “Forwarded many times” labels on the perceived accuracy and likelihood of sharing false and true posts. Our findings suggest that WhatsApp labels decrease the likelihood of sharing posts, including accurate posts, particularly when labelled 'Forwarded many times.' Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: No labels (control group with no labels shown), “Forwarded” labels (posts with labels shown), or “Forwarded many times” labels (posts with labels indicating multiple forwards). We presented all participants with six real posts sourced from fact-checkers and news organisations in the UK, including FullFact and Reuters. Four of these posts had been fact-checked and found false or misleading, while two contained accurate information on MonkeyPox. However, most of these effects appear small and occasionally statistically insignificant, highlighting the need for further research, particularly in countries where WhatsApp is popular for political news.

Authors

• Simge Andi, University of Exeter

• Richard Fletcher, University of Oxford