An Accuracy Self-Nudge to Reduce Misinformation Sharing Online

Self-nudging interventions enable people to redesign their own environment to encourage choices that are in line with their goals and preferences. Self-nudging is particularly relevant online, where users’ autonomy is endangered by deceptive design and opaque algorithms. To date, experimental research on self-nudging interventions to confront online challenges is scarce. In this pre-registered experimental study (N = 965), participants in the self-nudge condition were informed about a nudge to reduce misinformation sharing and actively decided for or against its implementation during the study; participants in the nudge condition received the nudge without such information nor the option to choose. Both the self-nudge and the nudge increased sharing discernment, but the effect of the self-nudge was stronger. Beside developing an experimental methodology to test self-nudging in a controlled setting, this study provides evidence for the potential of self-nudging to avoid paternalism in the application of behavioral interventions online, without compromising on effectiveness.