Why people believe misinformation even when they are told the facts

When you spot false or misleading information online, or in a family group chat, how do you respond? For many people, their first impulse is to factcheck — reply with statistics, make a debunking post on social media or point people towards trustworthy sources.

Factchecking is seen as a go-to method for tackling the spread of false information. But it is notoriously difficult to correct misinformation.

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