Self-Certification: A novel method for increasing sharing discernment on social media

Abstract

The proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms has given rise to growing demands for effective intervention strategies. One suggested method is to encourage users to deliberate on the veracity of the information prior to sharing. However, this strategy is undermined by individuals' propensity to share posts they acknowledge as false. In our study, we demonstrate that the practice of self-certification significantly enhances discernment in sharing. We observe that compelling users to verify their belief in a news post's truthfulness before sharing it markedly curtails the dissemination of false information. Importantly, this approach doesn't hinder users from sharing content they genuinely believe to be true. Thus, we propose a method that substantially curbs the spread of misleading content on social media without infringing upon the principle of free speech.