Profiling Misinformation Susceptibility

The spread of misinformation has become a global problem. But who falls for it? In this study, 66,242 individuals from 24 countries completed the Misinformation Susceptibility Test (MIST) and indicated their self-perceived misinformation discernment ability. Multilevel modelling showed that Generation Z, non-male, less educated, and more conservative individuals were more vulnerable to misinformation. Furthermore, individuals' confidence in detecting misinformation was associated with better actual discernment ability. Whereas women were especially accurate in assessing their own ability, extreme conservatives’ perceived ability showed little to no relation to their actual misinformation discernment. Meanwhile, despite performing worst, across all generations, Gen Z perceived their misinformation discernment ability most accurately. Taken together, our analyses provide the first systematic and holistic profile of misinformation susceptibility.