From ‘just jokes’ to ‘biased truth’: How politician-featured memes shape perceptions of political (mis)information
From ‘just jokes’ to ‘biased truth’: How politician-featured memes shape perceptions of political (mis)information
Jiyoung Yeon (Ph.D. student), Yilang Peng, Yingdan Lu, Salman Khawar, & Cuihua Shen. (2026). “From ‘just jokes’ to ‘biased truth’: How politician-featured memes shape perceptions of political (mis)information,” paper to be presented at the ICA Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. Abstract: This study examines how political memes, as communicative tools that both entertain and express critique of political power, shape audience perceptions of political information. Using an online mixed-design experiment (N = 900), we found that political memes are humorous and engaging but can also trivialize political information, lowering its perceived credibility. Their anti-elitist appeal—criticizing elites while aligning with ordinary people—enhanced credibility and engagement despite perceived bias. Memes reduced the credibility of true information, suggesting that political memes may blur audiences’ ability to evaluate accuracy. Our findings reveal how political memes foster engagement yet distort political information, underscoring the need for more informed and responsible digital communication.
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