Divides in News Verification: Antecedents and Political Outcomes of News Verification by Age

News verification has been an important practice to combat fake news, but relatively little work has explored the antecedents and outcomes of news verification outside of experimental settings. This study uses two-wave panel survey data from Taiwan to address this gap. Findings indicate that access to cultural, social, and technological resources largely determines individuals’ likelihood of undertaking advanced news verification that involves cross-checking with external sources. Some but not all verification divides vary by age, providing partial support for the perception that news verification gaps are more salient among older adults. Findings also indicate the political implications of news verification: people who engage in advanced verification are more likely to express themselves politically than those who only undertake basic verification involving self-judgment. These results have implications for targeted interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of fake news engagement across age groups.