Sentiment and the belief in fake news during the 2020 presidential primaries

Abstract

Abstract The influence of misinformation on the political decision-making process became a major concern in the United States after the 2016 Presidential election. We study the impact of “fake news” in the 2020 election cycle by conducting an online experiment the day before the “Super Tuesday” primary elections. Respondents attempt to differentiate between fake and true news headlines that vary exogenously with respect to the emotive language in which they are written. In addition to confirming the effect of demographics and identifying a new determinant of beliefs, the illusion of personal objectivity, we find that the sentiment of a headline determines whether it is believed and correctly assessed. We also find that the effects of emotive language vary by political affiliation. These results suggest ways to protect oneself against misinformation and engage critically with the news.