Fact-Checking Interventions on Social Media Using Cartoon Figures: Lessons Learned from “the Tooties”

Abstract

Fact-checking as a specific genre has become more important than ever over the past two decades to counter misinformation. However, we know from previous research that people rarely actively search for fact-checks. This study therefore argues for the importance of fact-checks as so-called direct content interventions on social media. More specifically, this article discusses the findings about an innovative way to implement these fact-check interventions, namely through the Tooties, cartoon characters that kindly point out the incorrectness of a refutable claim. Based on both a real-life implementation of the Tooties and an online experiment, this study provides insights about the feasibility and effectiveness of the Tooties as an innovative type of fact-check intervention compared to some of the more widely used types of fact-check interventions. This can prompt further research into the added value of fact-check interventions on social media and help news media and fact-check organizations in developing and implementing them.

Keywords:

• Fact-checking
• direct content interventions
• social media
• media skepticism
• online experiment

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).