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Curtailing False News, Amplifying Truth

Author

Listed:
  • Sergei Guriev

    (London Business School, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research)

  • Emeric Henry

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Théo Marquis

    (LEMNA - Laboratoire d'économie et de management de Nantes Atlantique - Nantes Univ - IAE Nantes - Nantes Université - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises - Nantes - Nantes Université - pôle Sociétés - Nantes Univ - Nantes Université)

  • Ekaterina Zhuravskaya

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research)

Abstract

We develop a comprehensive framework to evaluate policy interventions aimed at curbing false news dissemination on social media. Using a randomized experiment on Twitter and X during the 2022 and 2024 U.S. elections, we assess priming for misinformation awareness, fact‐checking, confirmation clicks, and content consideration prompts. Priming proves most effective in reducing false‐news sharing while preserving true news dissemination. We build and structurally estimate a model of sharing, motivated by partisan persuasion, partisan signaling, and reputational concerns. We identify three channels through which policies influence sharing: (i) updating perceived veracity and partisanship of content, (ii) raising salience of reputation, and (iii) increasing engagement costs. Differences in the effects of policies are explained by the salience and cost channels. Content‐neutral priming is best at enhancing salience of reputation at minimal cost and almost as effective as fact‐checking in updating veracity. Salience channel is stronger when users encounter uncontroversially true content.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergei Guriev & Emeric Henry & Théo Marquis & Ekaterina Zhuravskaya, 2026. "Curtailing False News, Amplifying Truth," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-05840470, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-05840470
    DOI: 10.3982/ECTA22524
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    JEL classification:

    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General

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