Understanding Cross-Platform Variability in Misinformation Engagement: Insights From Meta-Owned Platforms

The rise of misinformation on social media has been a cause for concern globally. While existing research has focused on individual characteristics that drive misinformation belief and sharing, research comparing platforms are limited. In particular, platforms owned by Meta – Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram – have been scrutinized for their role in misinformation engagement. Addressing this gap, we conducted an experiment to examine how cross-platform differences on Meta-platforms impact susceptibility to and intentions to share misinformation. The findings suggest that participants perceived the misinformation as more credible on Instagram than on Facebook and WhatsApp. However, we did not find statistical differences in misinformation-sharing intentions across platforms. Additionally, we found that individuals with low cognitive ability were more likely to share misinformation across conditions irrespective of perceived accuracy levels. Individuals with high cognitive ability were more likely to share the post only if they perceived the misinformation to be credible. These results indicate that cross-platform differences can drive how individuals perceive misinformation, but cognitive ability may act as a buffer against misinformation susceptibility. The findings of our study underscore the importance of examining inter-platform disparities in how individuals engage with misinformation.