The Outrage Effect How Misinformation Thrives on Social Media

The article from Ars Technica examines how misinformation spreads rapidly on social media platforms, particularly when it evokes "moral outrage." Research led by William J. Brady from Northwestern University showcases that emotional responses, especially those tied to perceived moral violations, drive people to share sensationalized content without verifying its accuracy. The study analyzed extensive data from Twitter and Facebook, confirming that outrage-inducing misinformation is more likely to be shared compared to trustworthy news. The findings challenge the traditional notion that misinformation is primarily shared inadvertently; instead, it suggests that people might prioritize social signaling over accuracy when sharing content that incites strong emotions.

Key Points:

• Misinformation is often shared widely when it elicits moral outrage, regardless of its accuracy.
• Traditional solutions to combat misinformation focus on accuracy but are largely ineffective.
• Brady's research tracked over 1 million links on Facebook and 45,000 Twitter posts from 2017 to 2021, highlighting patterns in sharing behavior.
• Outrageous content is more likely to be shared, as it stands out in the social media landscape.
• Emotional biases, especially related to morality, play a significant role in driving engagement with outrage-inducing posts.
• Sharing misinformation may also serve social functions, such as signaling group affiliation, outweighing the concern for accuracy.
  Link to Article