Local misinformation: social media groups and the role of local journalism
4 June 2026, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Central London
Think tank: Social Market Foundation
This event hosted by UK think tank the Social Market Foundation launch new research on the level and nature of misinformation found in local social media forums.
The public typically trusts local institutions more than it does national ones. But with a decline in the usage of local newspapers and radio, platforms such as Facebook, NextDoor and WhatsApp are increasingly popular methods of consuming and sharing local news.
The SMF has carried out research into usage of and trust in local media, the proliferation of misinformation, spam and extreme material in online community groups, and the role that local journalism, moderators and local social media communities play in combatting it. The research includes a unique, manual analysis of over 150,000 social media posts across Facebook, X, NextDoor and Reddit.
Our panel will discuss the risks of misinformation and the role of local journalism in the current media landscape, with speakers to be announced.
