Fact-checking Public Claims in Romania. A Case Study on Factual.ro

This study was an experimental design that examined the effects of hard news and fake news related to the COVID-19 pandemic on participants levels of COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes, anxiety, and intent to engage in protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus. We also examined sociodemographic factors (race, age, biological sex, political affiliation, RWA, social class) that were hypothesized to be directly related to COVID-19 related outcomes. Participants included 327 college students from a large southeastern public university in the United States who were primed with either fake news, hard news, or no news prior to completing an online questionnaire. We found differences in COVID-19 related outcomes based on experimental condition, but not in the predicted direction. Participants in the fake news condition had higher levels of COVID-19 knowledge, more positive attitudes related to the pandemic, and reported a higher intent to engage in protective measures. Participants in the hard news condition reported lower levels of COVID-19 knowledge, an increase in anxiety, and less intent to engage in protective measures. We also found a direct effect on COVID-19 related outcomes based on sociodemographic factors, particularly political orientation and RWA. Results are discussed specific to the college student population and should be helpful to those involved in policy making regarding social media, fake news, public health, and COVID-19 health recommendations for this population.