Browsing by Author "Esser, Frank"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Advancing the Study of Political Misinformation Across Countries and Platforms-Introduction to the Special Issue
    (SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2025) Humprecht, Edda; Valenzuela Leighton, Sebastián Andrés; Esser, Frank; Tandoc, Edson
    The global spread of political misinformation poses serious challenges to democracies, eroding trust and distorting public discourse. However, research has largely focused on WEIRD countries-Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic-limiting our understanding of how misinformation operates across diverse political, cultural, and technological contexts. This special issue addresses these gaps through comparative, cross-platform, and interdisciplinary perspectives. The articles explore how political and media systems shape misinformation, the role of individual resilience, and how platform-specific features-across social media, messaging apps, and traditional media-affect the spread of false information. Studies from non-WEIRD regions offer insights into distinct vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for context-sensitive approaches. Together, these contributions advance our understanding of misinformation as a global challenge and offer guidance for strengthening democratic resilience in varied information environments.