Dr. Ben Lyons' Research on Misinformation, Older Adults, and Media Literacy
Dr. Ben Lyons is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication who is
currently leading groundbreaking work in the field of media literacy and misinformation.
His latest project delves into the consumption and sharing of misinformation among
older adults, challenging conventional assumptions about digital literacy and cognitive
decline.
Dr. Lyons' research began as an exploration of media literacy, but an unexpected finding sparked his curiosity: older adults were not performing worse in surveys evaluating news accuracy. This puzzle motivated him to dig deeper, leading to his current work, which examines the role of partisanship and emotional engagement in misinformation sharing. His research indicates that, while older adults do engage with and spread misinformation at higher rates, this behavior is not due to a lack of digital literacy. Instead, they often exhibit a strong appetite for news that aligns with their partisan perspectives and emotional inclinations.
Dr. Lyons hopes his research will have a lasting impact on multiple levels. Within the field, his findings challenge the conventional wisdom that political news consumption can be generalized across demographics. On a broader scale, his work has the potential to shape public policy by advocating for updated approaches to digital literacy, particularly in addressing misinformation among older populations. Rather than focusing solely on digital skills, efforts should be directed at understanding the emotional and partisan influences that drive misinformation engagement.
As his research continues to gain national visibility, Dr. Lyons hopes the public will recognize the nuanced reality of misinformation among older adults. His work provides the first in-depth, comprehensive treatment of this topic, dispelling myths about cognitive decline and digital illiteracy as primary drivers of misinformation spread. His research is firmly grounded in open science and ethics, with all data and analytical code shared publicly to promote collaboration and reproducibility. By leveraging secondary research available to the public, his work fosters a more inclusive and accessible academic dialogue.
Dr. Lyons' research is a pivotal step in reshaping our understanding of misinformation and how it can be addressed. His work is already gaining widespread recognition, with his first solo-authored book under contract with Oxford University Press. Through sharing his findings, Dr. Lyons hopes to spark meaningful discussions, influence policy changes, and ultimately foster a more media-literate society. His efforts are laying the foundation for a deeper, more nuanced approach to tackling misinformation, particularly among older adults.