Academic attention toward fact-checking has grown significantly in the last decade; however, only a small number of studies have examined factors shaping public views toward fact- checking. Examining how political ideology and news media consumption shape ordinary citizens’ behaviour toward fact-checking and offering a broader understandingof this issue may mitigate limitations that undermine the mission of fact-checking. Thus, in countries where different types of fact-checking practise are employed, fact-checking may become more useful in its mission of combating disinformation.

The overarching aim of this research is to examine public awareness of fact-checking and analyse what the general public thinks about fact-checking in the UK. This research also seeks to identify to what extent political ideology and news media consumption play a role in forming an individual’s views towards fact-checking.