Understanding Audience Threat Perceptions of Misinformation: Insights from Focus Group Discussions with German Media Users

Abstract

Perceiving misinformation as a threat can have broad implications for society, yet how audiences arrive at such perceptions is not well understood. Using focus groups in Germany (N = 30), we examine perceived consequences, origins, and signals of misinformation threats. Participants view misinformation as abstract and multifaceted. Perceived consequences span personal to societal harms, while origins are often attributed to distant actors or technology. Assessments are shaped by general attitudes, biases, and sociopolitical contexts, as participants rely largely on affective, collective judgments rather than direct experience. The study highlights high perceived threats across different dimensions despite limited concrete signals.