Public Health Communication Reduces COVID-19 Misinformation Sharing and Boosts Self-Efficacy

During pandemics, circulation of misinformation has optimal conditions as information spreads fast while uncertainty is high. While health authorities play a key role in providing advice for protective behaviors, little is known on how health authorities can mitigate the spread of misinformation on social media. In two experiments in Denmark, we assess the effect of an accuracy nudge and two video interventions from the Danish Health Authorities used in a real-world public health campaign circulated on social media in Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings show that providing citizens with elaborate, actionable and concrete advice decrease misinformation sharing by boosting citizens’ sense of self-efficacy. Furthermore, while accuracy nudges may less effective during times with high uncertainty, public health authorities can provide citizens with competences through scaleable video interventions on social media.