“Others Are Misled, Not Me”: Third-Person Perception and Misinformation Sharing Among Chinese Elderly on WeChat

Abstract In the context of the post-truth era, characterized by the diverse manifestations of misinformation across varying cultural backgrounds, older adults, often considered more susceptible to misinformation, require focused research to understand their perceptions regarding its spread. Therefore, this study investigated the third-person perception of misinformation sharing behavior among Chinese older adults ( N = 317), a group that requires greater research attention. Results confirmed the existence of third-person perception in misinformation sharing on WeChat. Furthermore, results indicate that this perception is stronger among individuals with better fact-checking habits, higher misinformation verification abilities, and lower trust in information. Analyzing these findings within the Chinese cultural context, the study bridges the classic third-person effect hypothesis and cultural specificity, offering empirical insights into an underexplored demographic.