Correcting E-Cigarette Misinformation on Social Media: Responses from UAE Nationals Who Smoke

ABSTRACT

Considering limited research on the effects of misinformation on e-cigarettes and correcting it, especially in Middle Eastern countries, this study investigates the effects of different e-cigarette-information types on smokers’ behavioral intentions, and the effects of the source of misinformation-correction messages on UAE smokers. The study found that compared to scientific information, the misleading claims about the harmlessness of e-cigarettes may encourage smokers to prefer e-cigarettes to complete cessation. Further, to correct e-cigarette misinformation on social media, perceived source credibility mediates the effect of the message source on the message trust. The study outlines suggestions for misinformation correction.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project has been funded by the Office of Research for Research Incentive Fund (R19080). The authors thank the Office of Research at Zayed University for their support.

Notes on contributors

Kang Li

Kang Li., (Ph.D Michigan State University) is an assistant professor at the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University. Her research mainly focuses on health communication, advertising, social media, and environmental communication.

Donghee Shin

Donghee Shin., (Ph.D & M.S., Syracuse University) is a professor at the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University. His research interests include digital journalism, human-computer interaction, and algorithmic media. His recent research in computer/algorithm as media addresses: embodied cognition, the subjective value of information, interaction and interactivity.