UI Design and Repetition in Social Media on Users’ Perception of Truth

Abstract

In the digital age, misinformation spreads rapidly, often fueled by psychological biases and platform design. This study investigates the influence of social media user interface (UI) design, specifically source credibility labels, and repeated exposure on users' perception of truth. The research explores how these factors contribute to the spread of misinformation. Results indicate that credibility labels and repetition significantly affect perceived truthfulness. Specifically, posts with credible labels were rated as more truthful than those with non-credible labels. Moreover, repeated exposure increased perceived truthfulness, consistent with the Illusory Truth Effect (Fazio et al., 2019). These findings highlight the potential for UI design and repetition to shape beliefs, with implications for addressing misinformation in social media, politics, and education.