Local misinformation: social media groups and the role of local journalism

​This Social Market Foundation panel event will launch new research on the level and nature of misinformation found in local social media forums, and the role of traditional media in combatting it, kindly sponsored by the BBC.

​The public typically trusts local institutions more than it does national ones. But with a decline in the usage of local newspapers and radio, platforms such Facebook, NextDoor and WhatsApp are increasingly popular methods of consuming and sharing local news.

​The SMF has carried out research into usage of and trust in local media, the proliferation of misinformation, spam and extreme material in online community groups, and the role that local journalism, moderators and local social media communities play in combatting it. The research includes a unique, manual analysis of over 150,000 social media posts from across Facebook, X, NextDoor and Reddit.

​Our panel will discuss the risks of misinformation and the role of local journalism in the current media landscape, with speakers to be announced.

​If you have further questions about the event, please get in touch with [email protected].