This paper introduces a novel approach to measure Twitter users' exposure to misinformation from political elites. Using PolitiFact's fact-checks, the authors calculate falsity scores for 816 elites and assign users a misinformation-exposure score based on the elites they follow. The study finds a negative correlation between this score and the quality of news users share, and a positive correlation with estimated conservative ideology. Network analysis reveals an association between conservative ideology and misinformation exposure, with a stronger effect for conservatives than liberals. An open-source R library and API are provided for wider use.

Mohsen Mosleh, David G. Rand