Misinformation and Digital Inequalities: Comparing How Different Demographic Groups Get Exposed to and Engage with False Information

This study examines the extent to which digital inequalities, often associated in the literature with certain social demographics (e.g. age or place of residence), shape media users’ exposure to and engagement with misinformation. Using data from 24 focus group discussions conducted in six African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), we describe media users’ diverse experiences with false information and discuss whether these experiences can be better understood if we take into account inequalities in access to digital technology and digital literacy skills. We find that, while some older media consumers living in rural areas say they feel less exposed to misinformation online, they still come across online falsehoods through other means. We also show that this group is often perceived by others as the most vulnerable to misinformation because of assumed lower digital literacy skills. Our data, however, call for a problematization of this view, given that critical consumption of the media is prevalent among older adults. We conclude by highlighting the need for nuanced and targeted interventions to combat the spread of misinformation that consider the diverse range of experiences of media consumers in the countries under study.