Abstract
People increasingly rely on Internet and web-based information despite evidence that it is potentially inaccurate and biased. Therefore, this study sought to assess people's perceptions of the credibility of various categories of Internet information compared to similar information provided by other media. The 1,041 respondents also were asked about whether they verified Internet information. Overall, respondents reported they considered Internet information to be as credible as that obtained from television, radio, and magazines, but not as credible as newspaper information. Credibility among the types of information sought, such as news and entertainment, varied across media channels. Respondents said they rarely verified web-based information, although this too varied by the type of information sought. Levels of experience and how respondents perceived the credibility of information were related to whether they verified information. This study explores the social relevance of the findings and discusses them in terms of theoretical knowledge of advanced communication technologies.
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Biographies
Andrew J. Flanagin and Miriam J. Metzger are both assistant professors in the Department of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara. This research was supported by a Regents' Junior Faculty Fellowship (funded by the UCSB Foundation) from the University of California, Santa Barbara, granted to the first author. The authors would like to thank Emma Lulie and Kathy Kellermann for their helpful suggestions.
