What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to understand how social media use and elite-driven disinformation affect citizens' judgments on political trustworthiness.

June 11, 2026Open Access

Distorted accountability: Social media use, disinformation, and the erosion of political trustworthiness

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The research aims to understand how social media use and elite-driven disinformation affect citizens' judgments on political trustworthiness.
Analyzed data from three Eurobarometer waves (2021–2023) across 27 EU member states.
Categorized respondents into four trust types: skeptical trust, skeptical mistrust, credulous trust, and cynical mistrust.
Examined the influence of social media and traditional media on political trust judgments.
Frequent social media use correlates with a higher likelihood of irrational judgments about political trust.
This association is amplified in environments where political elites spread disinformation or hate speech via social media.
Findings challenge the 'virtuous circle' thesis, indicating a polarizing effect of online environments.

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Implication

This article investigates the impact of social media and disinformation on political trust in EU citizens, suggesting implications for rational judgment.

Cite This Study

Baboš et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2a528480c8f91e7f39e798 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18649118

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Implication

This article investigates the impact of social media and disinformation on political trust in EU citizens, suggesting implications for rational judgment.

Distorted accountability: Social media use, disinformation, and the erosion of political trustworthiness

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Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Distorted accountability: Social media use, disinformation, and the erosion of political trustworthiness

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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