Australians who get most of their news from social media more likely to believe in climate conspiracy, study finds
Australians who get most of their news from social media more likely to believe in climate conspiracy, study finds
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Exclusive: Monash University study suggests those who rely more on newspapers and public broadcasters more likely to score highly on ‘civic values’. Those who believe global heating is a conspiracy get most of their information about news and current events from commercial and social media, according to a study by researchers at Monash University.
![[Mark Andrejevic]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25165c498654c1b9d1e7f9452ff97a1496a9d355/360_0_940_1176/master/940.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The study, led by Prof Mark Andrejevic and Assoc Prof Zala Volcic, found that those who relied on social media as the main source of news scored lower on a measure of “civic values” than people who relied on newspapers and non-commercial media. Civic values were defined as an individual’s belief in democratic institutions and practices, as well as their openness to considering perspectives that challenged their own.
Respondents were asked questions such as “When you encounter information about politics that challenges your point of view, what do you tend to do?” and provided with multiple choice answers. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email. For the climate change question, researchers asked whether “fluctuations in the climate are the result of natural cycles that take place regardless of human activity”.
Of those who got most of their news from commercial TV and radio, 37% agreed with the statement. Of those who got most of their information from social media, 25% believed climate change was a conspiracy. Conversely, those who disbelieved in conspiracies about climate change were more likely to get their information from public broadcasters ABC and SBS. Only 2% of those whose main source of information was public radio and 6% of those whose main source was public television believed the climate crisis was a conspiracy.
