APS
2026 APS Annual Convention · 2026
Who Falls for Falsehood? Correlates of Susceptibility to Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories In Adolescents
- Ahoo Hekmati
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Lorna LeStanc
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Marine Lemaire
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Maria Ghazi
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Steeven Ye
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Mathieu Cassotti
Paris Cité University, CNRS - Grégoire Borst
Paris Cité University, CNRS
Abstract
We assessed news discernment ability (DA) and conspiracy beliefs (CB) in a nationally representative sample of 23,000+ high school students. Discernment improved with grade level. Conspiracy endorsement was stable across grades among boys. Girls showed a slight increase in 10th grade. Academic achievement and socioeconomic status predicted DA and CB.
