Effective Ways of Casting Doubt? Examining the Different Effects of Blatant and Suggestive Disinformation

Most disinformation research focuses on blatantly communicated disinformation. However, disinformation is often communicated more implicitly. In this study, we examined both the effects of suggestive disinformation (implicitly communicated as a question or suggestion) and blatant disinformation about science through a survey experiment conducted in the Netherlands. Contrary to concerns about anti-science disinformation, we found no effects of suggestive and blatant disinformation on misperceptions and attitudes toward science. Overall, participants saw politicians who spread blatant disinformation as less credible than politicians who spread suggestive disinformation or accurate information. Rightist, populist, and lower-educated individuals, however, found politicians who spread blatant and suggestive disinformation more, and equally, credible. Populist and right-wing politicians may thus benefit from spreading suggestive disinformation by being perceived as more credible by their core voters while avoiding reputation harm among the general population.