‘Verified’ badges on social media don’t make people savvier
Every day we scroll through posts that might be true… or total nonsense. Platforms try to help by adding verified badges, but do these actually help us judge credibility? This study tests whether identity checks and “credential badges” (like proving someone works in a hospital) make people better at spotting reliable posts. Spoiler: not really. Findings come from two experiments published in PLOS ONE.
Take aways
- People often treat any kind of badge as a sign that the post itself is trustworthy, even when it is not.
- Verified credentials boost credibility, even for topics outside a person’s expertise, which can unintentionally boost misinformation.
- Platforms should be careful introducing new verification designs, because badges can mislead everyday users rather than help them.
Study information
Who?
Study 1: 525 adults (mean age: 31; age range 18–65).
Study 2: 491 adults after exclusions (mean age: 40; age range 18–65).Where?
United Kingdom
How?
Participants viewed one social media post (Twitter-style in Study 1; generic platform in Study 2). Posts showed either no badge, an identity badge, or a badge/signature that verified someone’s professional credentials. The content was either related to the credential (e.g., medical topic) or unrelated. Participants rated how credible the source felt, how credible the message seemed, and whether they would share it. Then they repeated the ratings after receiving a short explanation of what the badges meant.
Facts and findings
- Identity badges made medical posts seem more credible, even though identity has nothing to do with expertise.
- Credential badges increased credibility in both relevant and irrelevant contexts.
- Many participants couldn’t remember which badge they saw, suggesting they judged credibility instinctively rather than carefully.
- After badges were explained, the “boost” in credibility became even stronger, especially for credential badges.