We look beyond the technological affordances that make misinformation easy to create and spread, to the deeper socio-political conditions that allow it to flourish: eroding trust in media and public institutions, the normalisation of populism and extremism, growing public uncertainty, and the broader fragility of shared truths in a digital information ecology.

We also examine the psychology of mis- and disinformation: which segments of society are most susceptible, and which psychological mechanisms it (strategically) exploits. 

Selected publications 

• Morosoli, S., & Humprecht, E. (2025). Motivations behind misinformation engagement: approving, disapproving, and ignoring. A study on individual characteristics in connection with supporting and renouncing online misinformation. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 35(3), 360–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2025.2514200 

• van Erkel, P., Hameleers, M., Farooq, A., Gattermann, K., Tulin, M., van den Hoogen, E., & de Vreese, C. (2026). The Hostile Misinformation Effect: How Ideological Congruence Drives the Assessment of Misinformation Targets. Political Communication, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2026.2671760 

• de Vries, D. A., Piotrowski, J. T., & de Vreese, C. (2025). Developing the DigIQ: A measure of digital competence. PLoS ONE, 20, Article e0322995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322995 

• Gattermann, K., van den Hoogen, E., & de Vreese, C. (2026). The role of far-right party performance in shaping disinformation concerns of European voters: evidence from the 2024 European Parliament elections. Journal of European Public Policy, 33(2), 636-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2025.2489088 

• Mattis, N., & de Vreese, C. (2025). Breaking the News? GenAI’s impact on journalism and its implications for disinformation. International Journal of Communication, 19, 3602-3626. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/25448 

We study the full complexity of the misinformation landscape, including the platforms, algorithms, AI, and networks of influence that drive the spread of falsehoods across hybrid information ecologies.

A key focus is how misinformation increasingly blurs the line between truth and falsehood by mimicking legitimate, authoritative forms of truth-telling, which makes it harder to identify and contain. We pay particular attention to the diverse, multimodal character of misinformation in digital settings: the influence of generative AI on how mis- and disinformation are constructed, the algorithmic amplification of disinformation, how audiences understand misinformation and its prevalence, and the participatory logic of disinformation networks that draw on both mainstream and alternative sources. 

Selected publications 

• Hameleers, M., & van der Meer, T. G. L. A. (2026). Misinformation according to news audiences: what do audiences in the U.S. and the Netherlands characterize as misinformation versus credible information on climate change. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 38, Article edag006. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edag006 

• Buttgereit, L., Hameleers, M., Gattermann, K., & Schuck, A. (2026). Beyond “Lügenpresse”: How Politicians Criticize and Delegitimize the Media in Germany. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 31(1), 184-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612241291826 

• Tian, W., van Reijmersdal, E. A., Daas, R., Larsen, H., & Peter, J. (2025). Augmented youth: Prevalence and predictors of AR filter use on social media among adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 170, Article 108686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108686 

• Blanco-Herrero, D., van den Putte, B., van der Meer, T.G.L.A. (2026). Misinformation Through the Lens of Dutch News Media and Public Health Authorities: Content Analysis of Topics and Narratives Present in Pandemic-Related Misinformation During COVID-19. JMIR Infodemiology, 6. https://doi.org/10.2196/91743 

• van der Meer, T. G. L. A., & Hameleers, M. (2026). Is misinformation all around us? Citizens’ perceptions of misinformation nearness regarding its span, availability, and accessibility. Digital Journalism, 1-30. 

• Hameleers, M. (2025). The visual nature of information warfare: the construction of partisan claims on truth and evidence in the context of wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine. Journal of Communication, 75(2), 90-100. 

• van Eck, C. W., Hameleers, M., & van der Goot, E. (2026). Identifying fake experts: A conceptual framework and case study of illegitimate expertise in climate change and COVID-19 misinformation and its implications for communication theory. Communication Theory, 36(1), 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtaf033 

We investigate how misinformation, and the wider crisis of truth and trust of which it is part, affects people, organisations, and democratic systems.

Beyond effects on individual beliefs and attitudes, we trace consequences across domains including consumer behaviour, health, journalism, and political decision-making, and across levels from individual citizens to policymakers and democratic institutions. We also look beyond belief in specific falsehoods: how do the presence of, and public debate about, the threat of mis- and disinformation affect the trust people place in information, the media, and organisations? 

Selected publications 

• Urkens, J., Jacobs, S. H. J., Pfeuffer, A. P., & Burgers, C. (2026). How Mis- and Disinformation by Organizations Affect Trust: The Role of Intentions and Consequences. Corporate Reputation Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-026-00264-7 

• Linnert, E., Hameleers, M., van der Meer, T. G. L. A., & Bos, L. (2026). Understanding Audience Threat Perceptions of Misinformation: Insights from Focus Group Discussions with German Media Users. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 10776990261451790. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990261451790 

• van Erkel, P., Hameleers, M., Farooq, A., Gattermann, K., Tulin, M., van den Hoogen, E., & de Vreese, C. (2026). The Hostile Misinformation Effect: How Ideological Congruence Drives the Assessment of Misinformation Targets. Political Communication, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2026.2671760 

• Pfeuffer, A., Hatfield, H. R., Evans, N., & Kim, J. (2025). Illegally beautiful? The role of trust and persuasion knowledge in online image manipulation disclosure effects. International Journal of Advertising, 44(4), 696-717. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2024.2403311 

• Brugman, B. C., van Huijstee, D., & Droog, E. (2026). Debunking the corporate paint shop: Examining the effects of misleading corporate social responsibility claims on social media. New Media & Society, 28(1), 333-356. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241288482 

• Zwolinski, A., Burgers, C., & van der Meer, T. G. L. A. (2026). Stronger together? Being part of an organizational coalition can influence perceptions of misinformation among political partisans. Public Relations Review. 

• Pfeuffer, A., Smit, E. G., van Reijmersdal, E. A., van Berlo, Z. M., He, X., Antsipava, D., & Kononova, A. (2026). Counterfeit chronicles: Describing and explicating online advertising for counterfeit products. Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641734.2026.2657274 

We study a wide range of interventions (from fact-checking and corrective information to media-literacy programmes, gamified inoculation, and platform- and policy-level measures) designed to counter the effects of misinformation.

Crucially, we move beyond narrowly measuring whether people believe specific falsehoods. Building genuinely resilient societies means rebuilding trust, strengthening the legitimacy of epistemic authorities, and fostering citizens’ critical capacities at every level. Together with societal stakeholders, we also develop, test, and implement new interventions against mis- and disinformation. 

Selected publications 

• Blanco Herrero, D., van den Putte, B., & van der Meer, G. L. A. (2026). Tailored and trust-based: strategies of information intermediaries countering health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information, Communication & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2026.2648687 

• Weikmann, T., Tulin, M., Hameleers, M., & de Vreese, C. (2026). No Easy Fix to Countering AI-Generated Visual Disinformation: The (in)Effectiveness of AI-Labels, Fact-Check Labels and Community Notes. Digital Journalism, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2026.2723426 

• Alblas, M. C., Verhoeven, K., & Fischer, V. (2026). Message accuracy labels but not source verification labels affect message engagement and persuasion of nutrition-related social media content through information credibility. Scientific Reports. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63041-w 

• Antsipava, D., van Reijmersdal, E. A., Strycharz, J., & van Noort, G. (2026). Can blockchain-based authenticity disclosures increase consumer trust in online advertising? Journal of Advertising, 55(2), 156-183 . https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2025.2510233 

• Droog, E., Burgers, C., van Huijstee, D., & Vermeulen, I. (2026). Laughing through the myths: Using satirical humor to counter misinformation about contraceptives on social media. Health Communication, 41(8), 1295-1306. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2560034 

• Weikmann, T., Wouters, F., Tulin, M., Hameleers, M., de Vreese, C., Zarouali, B., & Opgenhaffen, M. (2026). On the same page? Experts are mostly, but not always aligned about disinformation in times of generative AI. Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review , 7(2). https://doi.org/10.37016/mr-2020-196