Within Platform Design
Why Asking About Accuracy Changes Sharing
Accuracy prompts work by reminding users to consider truth, not just emotion, identity or social approval, before passing news along.
On this page
- How attention shapes misinformation sharing
- Evidence from accuracy prompt experiments
- Best uses and limits during viral events
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Accuracy prompts are one of the simplest platform design choices for reducing the spread of myths and misconceptions online. Rather than telling users what to believe, these prompts briefly redirect attention to a different question: “Is this accurate?” The idea is based on a finding that has emerged repeatedly in misinformation research: many people who share misleading content are not necessarily trying to spread falsehoods. Instead, they are often focused on other considerations such as humour, outrage, group identity, novelty, or social approval at the moment they decide to share. When attention is redirected towards accuracy, the quality of what people choose to pass on tends to improve. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet…
For platforms concerned with slowing the spread of myths, accuracy prompts are attractive because they preserve user choice. They do not remove content, impose fact-check labels on every post, or require complex moderation decisions. Instead, they attempt to make truthfulness more salient at the exact moment when sharing decisions are made. [Nature]nature.commisinformation on social media: experimental evidence for a scalable accuracy nudge intervention.Read more…
How attention shapes misinformation sharing
A common assumption is that people share misinformation because they cannot tell true claims from false ones. Research suggests the picture is more complicated. Many users show a larger gap between what they believe and what they are willing to share. They may recognise that a claim is doubtful yet still pass it along because attention has shifted towards other goals, such as entertaining friends, signalling political loyalty, expressing outrage, or joining a conversation. [ScienceDirect]sciencedirect.comScienceDirectReview The Psychology of Fake Newsby G Pennycook · 2021 · Cited by 2163 — Rather than being bamboozled by partisanship, peop…
The central mechanism behind accuracy prompts is therefore not improved fact-checking skill. It is attentional redirection. The intervention works by bringing accuracy back into the decision process before sharing occurs. Researchers describe this as an “inattention to accuracy” problem: people often care about truth but fail to actively consider it in the rapid, socially driven environment of online feeds. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet… ScienceDirect This distinction matters. If misinformation sharing were mainly caused by deeply held false beliefs [sciencedirect.com]sciencedirect.comScienceDirectReview The Psychology of Fake Newsby G Pennycook · 2021 · Cited by 2163 — Rather than being bamboozled by partisanship, peop…, a simple prompt would have little effect. The fact that brief reminders can change behaviour suggests that at least some misinformation spreads because users are not evaluating accuracy at all when making sharing decisions. [Nature]nature.comNatureAccuracy prompts are a replicable and generalizable…by G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 360 — Interventions that shift users attent…
A useful way to think about the mechanism is that social media constantly competes for attention. Likes, comments, emotional reactions and identity signals are visible and immediate. Accuracy is often invisible. An accuracy prompt temporarily elevates truthfulness to the same level of attention as those competing incentives. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet…
What the experiments actually found
The strongest evidence comes from a series of experiments led by Gordon Pennycook, David Rand and colleagues. In these studies, participants were first shown a neutral prompt asking them to assess the accuracy of a news headline. Later, they were asked whether they would share various true and false headlines on social media. Even though the initial accuracy question was unrelated to the later sharing task, participants became more selective and shared higher-quality information. [Nature]nature.comCan shifting attention to accuracy reduce misinformation on…by Z Liu · 2025 · Cited by 3 — Therefore, accuracy-prompt interventions ha…
The effect has been observed across multiple studies, topics and populations. A large meta-analysis covering 20 experiments and more than 26,000 participants found that accuracy prompts consistently improved the quality of information people intended to share online. The researchers concluded that the effect was both replicable and generalisable rather than a one-off laboratory result. [Nature]nature.commisinformation on social media: experimental evidence for a scalable accuracy nudge intervention.Read more…
Importantly, the intervention is often extremely small. Participants may be asked to rate the accuracy of a single headline, answer a brief question about truthfulness, or see a reminder encouraging careful consideration of accuracy. These modest interventions can alter later sharing choices even when users are not explicitly told which stories are true or false. [Misinformation Review]misinforeview.hks.harvard.edudeveloping an accuracy prompt toolkit to reduce covid 19 misinformation onlineMisinformation ReviewDeveloping an accuracy-prompt toolkit to reduce COVID…by Z Epstein · 2021 · Cited by 135 — Here we examine the ut…
Researchers have also explored richer versions of the idea. Experiments involving checklists, requests for credibility assessments, or short explanations for why a claim is accurate or inaccurate generally reduce willingness to share false information. Some versions reduce sharing of true information as well, but the reduction is usually larger for false content, leading to a higher overall quality of shared material. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXivExploring Lightweight Interventions at Posting Time to Reduce the Sharing of Misinformation on Social MediaJanuary 28, 2021…
Why these prompts work without telling people what is true
One of the notable features of accuracy nudges is that they do not depend on the platform determining the truth of every post.
Instead, they rely on three behavioural effects:
- Attention activation: users are reminded that accuracy is relevant to the current decision.
- Reflection encouragement: people spend slightly longer evaluating content rather than reacting automatically.
- Goal realignment: the prompt temporarily shifts motivation from social rewards towards informational quality. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet… [Sage Journals]journals.sagepub.comaccuracy nudge intervention…Read more…
This makes accuracy prompts different from warning labels or fact-check corrections. Warning labels communicate that a platform or third party has reached a judgement about content. Accuracy prompts ask users to make their own judgement. As a result, they often avoid some of the resistance that accompanies direct correction efforts. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet…
Evidence also suggests that the intervention operates across political groups. While some studies find modest differences in effect size between ideological groups, the general pattern remains: making accuracy salient tends to reduce misinformation sharing among both left-leaning and right-leaning participants. [Cornell Chronicle]news.cornell.eduaccuracy nudges decrease misinformation sharing left rightCornell ChronicleAccuracy 'nudges' decrease misinformation-sharing on left, right4 Apr 2024 — They found that “nudges” regarding the impo…
Best uses during fast-moving viral events
Accuracy prompts are particularly relevant during breaking news events, public emergencies and viral rumours. These are moments when information spreads quickly, emotions run high and verification often lags behind sharing.
In such circumstances, platforms can place prompts at several points in the user journey:
- Before reposting or forwarding a claim.
- When sharing links that have not been opened.
- When content is spreading unusually quickly.
- When users attempt to repost information about ongoing crises or public health events. [prosocialdesign.org]prosocialdesign.orgAccuracy PromptsBy calling their attention to accuracy, users will be more apt to discern if a news item is misinformation and less likel…
The value of the intervention is speed. Fact-checking often requires hours or days. An accuracy prompt can be deployed immediately and at scale. Because it does not depend on evaluating individual claims, it can function even when reliable information is still emerging. [Nature]nature.comNatureAccuracy prompts are a replicable and generalizable…by G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 360 — Interventions that shift users attent…
The approach is especially useful against myths that rely on impulsive sharing. Rumours driven by surprise, anger or fear gain much of their reach from rapid transmission. Introducing a moment of reflection can weaken that advantage. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet…
Where accuracy nudges fall short
Accuracy prompts are not a complete solution to misinformation.
First, the effect sizes are meaningful but not transformative. People still share false content after seeing prompts, and strongly motivated users may ignore them altogether. Accuracy nudges reduce misinformation sharing; they do not eliminate it. [Nature]nature.comCan shifting attention to accuracy reduce misinformation on…by Z Liu · 2025 · Cited by 3 — Therefore, accuracy-prompt interventions ha…
Second, repeated exposure may reduce effectiveness if users become accustomed to the prompts and stop noticing them. Researchers continue to investigate how often prompts should appear and how they can remain psychologically salient without becoming annoying. [Misinformation Review]misinforeview.hks.harvard.edudeveloping an accuracy prompt toolkit to reduce covid 19 misinformation onlineMisinformation ReviewDeveloping an accuracy-prompt toolkit to reduce COVID…by Z Epstein · 2021 · Cited by 135 — Here we examine the ut…
Third, accuracy prompts work best when the problem is inattention rather than deliberate deception. Users who knowingly spread false claims for political, financial or ideological reasons are less likely to be influenced by a reminder about truthfulness. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet…
Finally, platforms must balance effectiveness with user experience. Excessive prompting can create friction that frustrates users and reduces engagement. The challenge is to insert reminders at moments where the risk of misinformation spread is highest while keeping the intervention lightweight. [prosocialdesign.org]prosocialdesign.orgAccuracy PromptsBy calling their attention to accuracy, users will be more apt to discern if a news item is misinformation and less likel…
What accuracy prompts reveal about misinformation
The broader significance of accuracy prompts extends beyond the intervention itself. Their success provides evidence about why myths and misconceptions spread in the first place.
If many users respond to a brief reminder by sharing better information, then misinformation is not solely a problem of ignorance or gullibility. Part of the problem is attentional. Social media environments often encourage people to optimise for speed, identity and engagement rather than truth. Accuracy prompts work because they temporarily reverse that emphasis. [PMC]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCNudging Social Media toward AccuracyPMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet… [ScienceDirect For platform designers]sciencedirect.comScienceDirectReview The Psychology of Fake Newsby G Pennycook · 2021 · Cited by 2163 — Rather than being bamboozled by partisanship, peop…, this finding is important. It suggests that reducing false belief spread does not always require deciding what users can see. Sometimes it is enough to change what users are thinking about in the few seconds before they click “share”. [Nature]nature.comCan shifting attention to accuracy reduce misinformation on…by Z Liu · 2025 · Cited by 3 — Therefore, accuracy-prompt interventions ha…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Why Asking About Accuracy Changes Sharing. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Psychology of Fake News
Explores cognitive mechanisms behind sharing and believing misinformation.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Provides the cognitive framework behind attention, judgment, and sharing decisions.
![Cover for The Death of Truth [Hardcover] Michiko Kakutani](https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/9237737-M.jpg)
The Death of Truth [Hardcover] Michiko Kakutani
First published 2018. Subjects: United states, politics and government, 2017-2021, Political culture, Truth.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Example marketplace items related to this page. Use the search link to explore similar finds on eBay.
Endnotes
-
Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Title: PMCNudging Social Media toward Accuracy
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9082967/Source snippet
PMC - NIHby G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 122 — A meaningful portion of online misinformation sharing is likely attributable to Internet...
-
Source: sciencedirect.com
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661321000516Source snippet
ScienceDirectReview The Psychology of Fake Newsby G Pennycook · 2021 · Cited by 2163 — Rather than being bamboozled by partisanship, peop...
-
Source: nature.com
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03344-2Source snippet
misinformation on social media: experimental evidence for a scalable accuracy nudge intervention.Read more...
-
Source: prosocialdesign.org
Link: https://www.prosocialdesign.org/library/accuracy-promptsSource snippet
Accuracy PromptsBy calling their attention to accuracy, users will be more apt to discern if a news item is misinformation and less likel...
-
Source: nature.com
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30073-5Source snippet
NatureAccuracy prompts are a replicable and generalizable...by G Pennycook · 2022 · Cited by 360 — Interventions that shift users attent...
-
Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.11824Source snippet
arXivExploring Lightweight Interventions at Posting Time to Reduce the Sharing of Misinformation on Social MediaJanuary 28, 2021...
Published: January 28, 2021
-
Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.01536 -
Source: news.cornell.edu
Title: accuracy nudges decrease misinformation sharing left right
Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/04/accuracy-nudges-decrease-misinformation-sharing-left-rightSource snippet
Cornell ChronicleAccuracy 'nudges' decrease misinformation-sharing on left, right4 Apr 2024 — They found that “nudges” regarding the impo...
-
Source: nature.com
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05233-9Source snippet
Can shifting attention to accuracy reduce misinformation on...by Z Liu · 2025 · Cited by 3 — Therefore, accuracy-prompt interventions ha...
-
Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/html/2512.13643v1Source snippet
Several studies have found this intervention to reduce...Read more...
-
Source: sciencedirect.com
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953624005896Source snippet
Mitigating the influence of message features on health...by X Xue · 2024 · Cited by 14 — Misinformation and disinformation about dietary...
-
Source: misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu
Title: developing an accuracy prompt toolkit to reduce covid 19 misinformation online
Link: https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/developing-an-accuracy-prompt-toolkit-to-reduce-covid-19-misinformation-online/Source snippet
Misinformation ReviewDeveloping an accuracy-prompt toolkit to reduce COVID...by Z Epstein · 2021 · Cited by 135 — Here we examine the ut...
-
Source: journals.sagepub.com
Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00027162221092342Source snippet
accuracy nudge intervention...Read more...
-
Source: mathworld.wolfram.com
Link: https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Accuracy.htmlSource snippet
from Wolfram MathWorldThe degree to which a given quantity is correct and free from error. For example, a quantity specified as 100+/-1 h...
Additional References
-
Source: GOV.UK
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/matthew-pennycookSource snippet
Pennycook MPMatthew Pennycook was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 6 July 2024...
Published: July 2024
-
Source: merriam-webster.com
Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accuracy -
Source: x.com
Link: https://x.com/mtpennycookSource snippet
Posts - Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich | Minister of State for Housing and Planning | Email: matthew.p...
-
Source: osf.io
Link: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/awj97Source snippet
PsyArXiv, September 1, 2023. doi:10.31234/osf.io/awj97. Modern Language...Read more...
Published: September 1, 2023
-
Source: osf.io
Link: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/u8anb_v1Source snippet
accuracy prompts [fake news]({{ 'fake-news/' | relative_url }}) interventions misinformation social media...Read more...
-
Source: researchgate.net
Title: 360387098 Nudging Social Media toward Accuracy
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360387098_Nudging_Social_Media_toward_AccuracySource snippet
(PDF) Nudging Social Media toward Accuracyby G PENNYCOOK · 2022 · Cited by 118 — Interventions that shift users attention toward the conc...
-
Source: property118.com
Link: https://www.property118.com/why-matthew-pennycook-is-wrong-about-the-renters-rights-act/Source snippet
have more to worry about under his Renters' Rights Act, and here is...
-
Source: members.parliament.uk
Link: https://members.parliament.uk/member/4520/contactSource snippet
information for Matthew Pennycook - MPs and LordsMatthew Pennycook is the Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, and has been an MP contin...
-
Source: thesaurus.com
Title: ACCURAC Y Synonyms & Antonyms
Link: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/accuracySource snippet
ACCURACY Synonyms & Antonyms - 48 wordsFind 48 different ways to say ACCURACY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences...
-
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Accuracy and precision
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_and_precisionSource snippet
Accuracy and precisionAccuracy is the proximity of measurement results to the accepted value; precision is the degree to which repeate...
Topic Tree