The correlates between factors and beliefs on political misinformation among college students in a private university in Iloilo City

Abstract

In an era marked by the proliferation of misinformation, particularly in the realm of politics, understanding the formation and influence of belief on political misinformation is crucial. This study examined the correlates between factors and beliefs on political misinformation among college students of a private university in lloilo City for the period between December and January 2024. Students were interviewed online using a set of Google-driven survey questionnaires. Most respondents were female, Roman Catholic, and first-year students in their early twenties. Social media fatigue and information overload emerge as primary factors, while lack of information verification skills ranks lowest. Although demographic attributes failed to yield significant associations with belief determinants, a noteworthy correlation emerged between online trust in social media platforms and beliefs in political misinformation. Additionally, social media fatigue and information overload correlated significantly with a lack of information verification skills. These findings underscore the need for enhanced media literacy education and interdisciplinary collaboration to combat political misinformation and promote informed civic engagement in the digital milieu.