The Effect of Correction Intervention on Engagement of Users Sharing Fake News on X (Twitter)

This study aimed to compare the causal effect of one of the interventions to fight fake news (sending correction messages) on Persian-speaking users who spread false news by investigating the level of their engagement with this message. The study method was experimental and based on a randomized field experiment. The population was targeted by X Persian-speaking users who published specific fake news. The study sample was 334 of these users who were randomly selected within the first 48 hours of the news release and randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups. The data of the study was extracted through the application program interface (API) of X and subjected to the analysis of binominal logistic regression and chi-square test. The implementation of the intervention was that after the preparation of a neutral account by the researcher, three types of corrective messages were sent to these users and their engagement with the corrective message was studied within 24 hours. The results showed that the message that contained only the truth was significantly more effective than the message that contained the truth vs. rumors (p<0.05). Also, the characteristics of the users did not affect their engagement with the corrective message. According to the existing research gap on the efficiency of different approaches, this study showed for the first time in the world that the approach of simply stating the truth is more effective. The results of this intervention can be applied in social media to fight fake news.