Media studies, Vol. 17 No. 33, 2026.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20901/ms.17.33.6
Stitching Refutations: Debunking Misogyny and Misinformation on TikTok
Kunjika Apurvabhai
; Georgetown University
M. Riley Tinlin
; Georgetown University
Leticia Bode
; Georgetown University
Merielle Angelie Agorilla
; Georgetown University
Carol Balass
; Georgetown University
Evan Cain
; Georgetown University
Randy Cantz
; Georgetown University
Maria Fernanda Chanduvi
; Georgetown University
Yanpei Chen
; Georgetown University
Yige Chen
; Georgetown University
Giselle Guadiana
; Georgetown University
Meghan Landsberg
; Georgetown University
Hannah McDonnell
; Georgetown University
Bryan Murphy
; Georgetown University
Kashaf Rashid
; Georgetown University
Abstract
Misogyny, a deep-seated prejudice against women, thrives on misinformation. This study explores one approach to mitigating the effects of misogynistic misinformation on TikTok, a popular short-form video platform. Misogyny and associated misinformation have flourished on TikTok, fueled by user-generated content and algorithmic amplification. This preregistered experiment (N = 2,756) examined the effectiveness of different types of Stitch-based refutations. Specifically, we tested the impact of TikTok Stitches that varied in refutation approach (targeting misinformation, misogyny, or both) and the refuter’s race (Black or White) and gender (presenting as a man or as a woman) on viewers’ misinformation- and misogyny-related beliefs. The study employed a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design, supplemented by a misinformation-only condition and a pure control condition, resulting in 14 experimental conditions. This project addresses a research gap by examining the intricate interplay among misogyny, misinformation, race, and gender within the context of TikTok’s short-form video format. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of corrective Stitches of misinformation in countering misinformation across refuters from diverse intersectional identities, while also underscoring the difficulty of shifting misogynistic attitudes.
Keywords
Misogyny; misinformation; correction; TikTok; stitch
Hrčak ID:
350362
URI
Publication date:
27.8.2026.
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