<
https://theconversation.com/misinformation-was-rife-during-the-2025-election-new-research-shows-many-people-were-unable-to-identify-it-267852>
"Misinformation has become a routine part of daily life, shaping public
discourse and distorting perceptions. A new report reveals that in the two
weeks prior to the 2025 federal election, almost two-thirds (60%) of adults
reported coming across election misinformation. Only 19% didn’t come across it
and 21% were unsure.
Many Australians are frustrated and overwhelmed by misinformation. They also
lack the time and skills to fact-check, and feel governments and platforms
should be doing more to combat it.
Only 41% of adults are confident they can check whether online information is
true, and 40% say they can check whether a social media post can be trusted.
Low confidence leads to higher concern. Almost three-quarters (73%) say they
are concerned about the spread of false election information.
This low confidence and heightened anxiety can lead to disengagement from news
and politics. When people see something they suspect is election
misinformation, they are more likely to ignore it (44%) than check the facts
(25%). The pervasive nature of election misinformation could be turning people
away from democratic institutions and processes.
Many people don’t investigate dubious information because they experience
political burnout. Even if someone does have the ability to verify
misinformation, they may choose not to apply the skill or knowledge. Instead,
audiences who are bothered by information uncertainty disengage altogether."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
