Ageing, health misinformation and mobile messaging apps

Abstract

The wide circulation of health misinformation has the potential to cause major health complications for the older generation worldwide who are less active on digital media and are thus less able to identify misinformation. This article draws on the social ties and relational correction perspective to reflect on the evaluating, verifying and correcting practices regarding health misinformation in messenger apps within the older generation in Bangladesh. Thirty Bangladeshi older adults, between the ages of 60 and 74, participated in in-depth interviews with the aim of mapping out the interpersonal relationships with cultural dimensions that contribute to the sharing and correcting of health misinformation. While resharing health information, the social tradition of maintaining a positive impression and trusting those within their close network was visible among these older adults. Although strong and weak ties contributed equally to this process, strong ties played a dominant role in correcting misinformation.