A new investigation has revealed that local social media groups are significantly contributing to the spread of misinformation in areas of the United Kingdom where reliable news sources are scarce. The study, conducted by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) thinktank and reported by the Guardian, analyzed over 125,000 social media posts across Facebook groups, X searches, and Nextdoor communities. It found that misinformation was nearly three times more common in regions with little or no recognized local journalism.
Key Findings on Misinformation
The research identified that immigration and Islamophobia were the most frequent topics of misinformation on Facebook and X. Spikes in false information were notably observed around local elections, with misinformation increasing by 56% in the lead-up to polling day—rising from 8.2% to 12.9% of all news-related posts. More than 4.4 million people in the UK now reside in what are termed 'news deserts,' areas devoid of dedicated local news providers.
Impact on Trust and Democracy
MPs have expressed deep concern over the growing influence of unreliable online groups, which are filling the void left by declining local news outlets. One MP noted that these groups often have larger readerships than local media and are run by administrators lacking legal expertise or openly supporting a particular political party. The SMF described local online groups as 'the silent killer of trust in Britain,' uncovering faked local authority communications, AI-generated content, and misleading claims about councils.
Examples of false posts included a claim that Birmingham council meetings had 'stopped being conducted in English altogether,' a false expansion of London's congestion charge, and a plan to make the countryside 'less white.' During the recent byelection in Gorton and Denton, south-east Manchester, misinformation was found in three out of four local groups, with false quotes and descriptions of campaigns as 'terrorist groups' circulating.
Calls for Regulatory Action
Chi Onwurah, Labour chair of the science and technology select committee, called the findings 'deeply concerning' and criticized the government for rejecting recommendations on tackling online misinformation. She urged the adoption of principles like responsibility and transparency into the online safety regime. The government acknowledged the dangers but emphasized focusing on the most prevalent harms.
The SMF's deputy research director, Jamie Gollings, stressed that local misinformation is a silent killer of trust, affecting voting behavior, community relations, and institutional trust. Theo Bamber of the News Media Association highlighted the need for a strong local news sector to combat misinformation and called for government support.
Platform Responses
Meta stated it has community standards and a misinformation policy that removes content likely to contribute to imminent physical harm or interfere with political processes. Nextdoor noted its dedicated misinformation policy for elections and health emergencies, with reports escalated to a professional team. X did not respond to a request for comment.
