Trust in social media: How comments influence our perception!

Trust in social media: How comments influence our perception!

The latest study from the University of Rostock, in collaboration with the Universities of Berlin and Alberta (Canada), sheds light on the influence of social commentary on trust in others. According to the results of the research, trust can be significantly affected by third-party opinions. Professor Philipp C. Wichardt, who leads the study and is a professor of microeconomics at the University of Rostock, explains that emotionally stable people are more resilient to social influences. This opens up new perspectives on how emotional stability can act as a buffer against negative experiences.

The online experiment that was part of the study examined the subjects' behavior in a trust game. They were supposed to hand over an amount to an unknown person, which would triple before a repayment could be made. The results show that comments that reflect distrust, uncertainty, fear, or even curiosity significantly reduce participants' trust. Emotionally unstable people in particular showed increased sensitivity to these social influences.

Influence of the consensus effect

The study also identified a well-known consensus effect, in which the perception of comments guides subjects' decisions. Interestingly, the negative effects were noticeable even for neutral terms like “curiosity.” This highlights the relevance that emotional stability in social contexts has for individuals' daily behavior. Professor Wichardt appeals to politicians to radiate more calm and stability in order to promote the trust of the population.

In summary, the study makes it clear that trust is not a static good. It is influenced by external opinions as well as the emotional state of an individual. This finding offers valuable suggestions for developing strategies to strengthen trust in public and social spaces. The results clearly show that social space is important for individual decisions and the trust relationship between people depends heavily on the perception and feedback of third parties.

These research findings are particularly relevant today, when social media and online communication dominate. The influence of comments and ratings could have a decisive impact in both personal and social contexts. The multifaceted influence of third parties on trust thus becomes a central topic in current research and practical application.

For a deeper dive into the study's results and their implications, read more uni-rostock.de.