Wise blindness: reinterpreting false information engagement through a thematic analysis
This study challenges ‘gullibility’ as the primary driver of false information engagement. Thematic analysis of 30 interviews in China reveals two themes. Firstly, multifaceted motivations underlying strategic engagement: Individuals intentionally interact with false information for goal attainment,...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Social Influence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15534510.2025.2469704 |
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| Summary: | This study challenges ‘gullibility’ as the primary driver of false information engagement. Thematic analysis of 30 interviews in China reveals two themes. Firstly, multifaceted motivations underlying strategic engagement: Individuals intentionally interact with false information for goal attainment, emotional appeasement, rational trade-offs, or pragmatic acceptance of low-stakes content. Secondly, contextual gaps in cognitive adaptation: Susceptibility arises from overthinking under pressure, exploitation of routine behaviors, and technological challenges. Findings reframe ‘gullibility’ as socially constructed through individual-context interactions, advocating for context-sensitive analyses of false information engagement. |
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| ISSN: | 1553-4510 1553-4529 |