Does fact-checking work? A critical review of evidence, limits, and conditions

Résumé fourni par la source

This article is a critical review of the research that looked at the effectiveness of fact-checking in journalism during the years 2010 to 2025. It bases its arguments on the 148 studies that were found through citation-tracking and qualitative synthesis and that led to the identification of three phases of scholarly understanding. The first one recognized as early skepticism about corrective effects. The second is a period of reassessment showing conditional effectiveness; and the third is concentrated on recent innovations including explanatory formats, preventive inoculation, and artificial intelligence. Throughout these stages, the evidence is consistent with the view that fact-checking is capable of reducing misperceptions, but it is still limited mainly by motivated political polarization and media literacy. The article maintains that fact-checking is to be considered as a multidimensional journalistic practice which entails cognitive and technological strategies. It points out the consequences for newsroom routines, fact-checking organizations, and professional training, especially the necessity of combining design-based corrections with community engagement. By connecting the theoretical debates with the professional challenges, the review employs fact-checking as a tool to address journalism ethics and digital platform governance issues.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.