Socio-Technical Interventions to Promote Challenging Misinformation on Social Media: A Research Proposal

The widespread dissemination of misinformation through social media platforms is a growing concern. A promising solution to counteract this issue is by fostering social corrections, a practice that involves users correcting the posts of others on these platforms. However, this approach is underutilised due to the personal and cultural differences associated with challenging misinformation. This research proposes studies into the cultural nuances influencing the willingness of users in Arab countries to challenge misinformation on social media platforms. The proposed studies will explore the role of perceived negative consequences, injunctive norms, refusal skills, and the persuasiveness of design techniques in challenging misinformation, along with the impact of various cultural and prominent demographic factors. This research will not only shed light on the cultural elements influencing the challenge of misinformation but also contribute to the development of culturally sensitive technology-based interventions to encourage social corrections in the Arab context.