Social media make it easy to spread posts, and algorithms can promote sensational content that gets many shares. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen studied how small changes in the sharing process can slow the spread of misinformation. Their study appears in the journal npj Complexity and is led by PhD student Laura Jahn with Professor Vincent F. Hendricks.
The team created a computer model that simulates information flow on platforms such as X, Bluesky and Mastodon. According to the model, introducing a small digital friction — a short pause or delay before a user shares a post — reduces the number of reshares. The model also showed a limitation: friction by itself does not always raise the quality of shared content.
To address both problems, the researchers added a brief learning step to the sharing process. Hendricks describes one approach as a pop-up with a short quiz about how misinformation is defined and what the platform does to limit fake news. When friction is combined with this learning element, the model shows that the average quality of shared posts increases significantly.
- Small pause or delay before sharing
- Pop-up messages that prompt reflection
- Short quizzes about misinformation and platform rules
The researchers hope that tech companies will test the idea on their platforms to see if engagement with low-quality content falls and users improve at recognising misinformation. If large platforms cannot collaborate, the team will use simulated platforms available for research. The work was done at the Center for Information and Bubble Studies at the University of Copenhagen.
Difficult words
- algorithm — a set of rules used to process informationalgorithms
- misinformation — false or misleading information presented as true
- friction — a small pause or delay before sharing
- simulate — to create a model that copies real actionssimulates
- engagement — how much users interact with posts or content
- collaborate — to work together with others on a project
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think a short pop-up quiz would change how you share posts? Why or why not?
- What are possible advantages and disadvantages of adding a delay before sharing on social media? Give reasons.
- How could tech companies measure whether users improve at recognising misinformation after testing this idea?
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