Poster #148 - Media Consumption, Conspiracies, and Perceptions of Law Enforcement

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast United States on September 27, 2024, causing billions of dollars of damage. In its aftermath, federal authorities and local law enforcement mobilized, though their response faced criticism with much of it circulating on social media. Members of the public often rely on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or Reddit for news and political content, which reinforce existing views with increasingly sophisticated content algorithms. Conspiracy beliefs rooted in distrust of government institutions can further distort perceptions and heighten fear during crises. This is concerning, as public trust in law enforcement is often linked to compliance and cooperation—both critical during emergency response efforts. Using data from college students at two higher-education institutions in areas directly impacted by Hurricane Helene, this study explores whether media consumption is associated with perceptions of the federal and local law enforcement response to Hurricane Helene. The results shed insight on the relationship between media consumption patterns, susceptibility to conspiracies, and related perceptions of law enforcement's response. Accordingly, the regulation of misinformation may be consequential to both federal authorities and local law enforcement for maintaining public trust during major crises.

Authors

• Nicole Prior, East Tennessee State University

• Amelia Jennings, East Tennessee State University

• Logan Ledford, East Tennessee State University

• Bradley Edwards, East Tennessee State University