"Facebook Told Me So!": Examining the Effects of Misinformation on Voter Behavior in Democratic Elections
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Political Sci/Legal Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Brittany Wood
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
This study explores how exposure to misinformation may influence people’s participation in democratic elections. Specifically, it was asked whether paying closer attention to media, where false information or misleading information is more likely to appear, is associated with a lower likelihood of registering to vote. Due to the complex nature of today’s digital environment, misleading political content spreads rapidly, deepens partisan divides, and can erode trust in democratic institutions. If such content not only shapes beliefs but also suppresses action, the stake in democracy is high. To investigate this, the analysis draws on data from the American National Election Studies (ANES) 2020 Time Series, a nationally representative U.S. survey that includes measures related to media consumption, political knowledge, trust, party registration, and vote registration status. The expectation is that the more misinformation that is seen by an individual will decrease their likelihood them voting in democratic elections. If this relationship holds, the findings suggest that misinformation operates not through shaping what people think, but also through influencing whether they actively engage in democracy. That then leads to implications for media literacy efforts, regulation of online political content, and targeted voter-engagement strategies.
Fall Scholars Week 2025
Political Science and Sociology Department Panel
"Facebook Told Me So!": Examining the Effects of Misinformation on Voter Behavior in Democratic Elections
This study explores how exposure to misinformation may influence people’s participation in democratic elections. Specifically, it was asked whether paying closer attention to media, where false information or misleading information is more likely to appear, is associated with a lower likelihood of registering to vote. Due to the complex nature of today’s digital environment, misleading political content spreads rapidly, deepens partisan divides, and can erode trust in democratic institutions. If such content not only shapes beliefs but also suppresses action, the stake in democracy is high. To investigate this, the analysis draws on data from the American National Election Studies (ANES) 2020 Time Series, a nationally representative U.S. survey that includes measures related to media consumption, political knowledge, trust, party registration, and vote registration status. The expectation is that the more misinformation that is seen by an individual will decrease their likelihood them voting in democratic elections. If this relationship holds, the findings suggest that misinformation operates not through shaping what people think, but also through influencing whether they actively engage in democracy. That then leads to implications for media literacy efforts, regulation of online political content, and targeted voter-engagement strategies.