People exposed to fake news during the already uncertain COVID-19 era are simultaneously compelled to treat themselves and to try to save money, according to new research from 抖阴旅行射 Boulder and the University of New Hampshire.
The findings are published in an upcoming edition of the .
Participants exposed to fake news said they felt more uncertainty about their lives. The researchers found this effect was compounded by the pandemic. It even occurred when researchers reminded participants that fake news exists.
The researchers then asked participants a series of questions about making hypothetical choices between premium or cost-effective food and grocery products.
鈥淭he finding that surprised us is that this uncertainty can cause people to feel a joint desire to save their money for a murky future and also to spend a little bit to make themselves feel better about the state of the world right now,鈥� said Nick Light, a marketing PhD candidate at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business and co-author on the paper.
Lawrence Williams (left), an associate professor of marketing, and Nick Light (right), a PhD candidate, both with the Leeds School of Business at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder,听collaborated on the research with Justin Pomerance, an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire.
Essentially, people who have splurged for little treats over the course of the pandemic should take solace that they are not alone, according to the researchers.
鈥淐OVID-19 did not occur in a vacuum. The pandemic came in on the heels of this other societal issue of misinformation that the world is still figuring out,鈥� said Justin Pomerance, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of New Hampshire and study co-author.
Fake news鈥� sway over consumers鈥� spending habits under COVID-19 did not depend on political party and occurred whenever participants felt they had been exposed to misinformation, whether听or not it was actually misinformation.
鈥淩egardless of what we feel about it, or if we can identify it, the presence of fake news changes the information environment,鈥� said Lawrence Williams, co-author and associate professor of marketing at the Leeds School of Business. 鈥淚t鈥檚 having an effect on the world and the way that all of us are exposed to information.鈥�
The uncertainty fake news created did play out somewhat differently for people of different income levels. While higher-income earners wanted to balance out treat purchases with value buys, people making less money leaned towards purchasing one or the other.
Higher-income earners may weather the COVID-19 economic downturn with fewer issues, but Williams said there could be a way for lower-income earners to avoid feeling pressure to spend money on non-essentials.
鈥淭hey could limit time on social media or engaging with other possible sources of misinformation,鈥� Williams said.
While the research yields insights into how fake news is impacting people鈥檚 psyches during the pandemic, the work actually began in 2019.
鈥淲e started this research looking at marketing questions around products implicated in fake news stories,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淲e saw a clear need to pivot in March as global response to the pandemic became influenced by misinformation.鈥�
The paper still holds long-lasting lessons for the business community, according to the researchers.
鈥淐ompanies can do well during uncertain times by convincing consumers that what they offer is more of a treat,鈥� said Light. 鈥淭hey could also argue their product is a more responsible purchase compared to some other purchase the customer might be considering.鈥澨�
Beyond selling products, the researchers advised companies to pay extra attention to the relationships they have with customers.
鈥淯se your platform to be more authentic. Be especially honest and a champion for the truth,鈥� said Williams.
He said that approach could help people reduce customers鈥� feelings of uncertainty, or even anxiety and depression.
Companies can take a major step by simply making themselves aware of the misinformation problem and the uncertainty it creates, the researchers said.听
Policymakers should also take note of the group鈥檚 findings on fake news鈥� impact on uncertainty, Pomerance said.
鈥淭aking action to limit fake news could tamp down the uncertainty that leads to overspending or antisocial behaviors like hoarding,鈥� said Pomerance.听
This research was funded by a grant from the Marketing Science Institute.
