{"ID":2829112,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.13643","arxiv_id":"2512.13643","title":"Follow Nudges without Budges: A Field Experiment on Misinformation Followers Didn't Change Follow Networks","abstract":"Can digital ads encourage users exposed to inaccurate information sources to follow accurate ones? We conduct a large-scale field experiment (N=28,582) on X, formerly Twitter, with users who follow accounts that spread health misinformation. Participants were exposed to four ad treatments varied on two dimensions: a neutral message versus a persuasive message appealing to values of independence, and a request to follow a health institution versus a request to follow a health influencer. We term this ad-based, social network intervention a follow nudge. The ad with a persuasive message to follow a well-known health institution generated significantly higher click-through rates than all other conditions (Bonferroni-corrected pairwise tests, all p\u003c0.001). Given the overall low click-through rate across treatments and the high cost of digital advertising infrastructure on X, however, we conclude that our proposed intervention -- at least in its current ad-based format -- is not a cost-effective means to improve information environments online. We discuss challenges faced when conducting large-scale experiments on X following the platform's ownership change and subsequent restrictions on data access for research purposes.","short_abstract":"Can digital ads encourage users exposed to inaccurate information sources to follow accurate ones? We conduct a large-scale field experiment (N=28,582) on X, formerly Twitter, with users who follow accounts that spread health misinformation. Participants were exposed to four ad treatments varied on two dimensions: a ne...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.13643","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.13643v1","authors":"[\"Laura Kurek\",\"Joshua Ashkinaze\",\"Ceren Budak\",\"Eric Gilbert\"]","published":"2025-12-15T18:36:58Z","proceeding":"cs.SI","tasks":"[\"cs.SI\"]","methods":"[]","has_code":false}