Political rumors spread via e-mail.

• Position: Internet - Brief article

Despite the fears of some, use of the Internet in general does not make people more likely to believe political rumors, suggests a study published in Human Communications Research. However, one form of Internet communication--e-mail--does seem to have troubling consequences for the spread and belief of rumors.

"I think a lot of people will be surprised to learn that using the Internet doesn't necessarily promote belief in rumors. Many people seem to think that's self-evident," says R. Kelly Garrett, author of the study. "The Internet does make it easier to circulate rumors, but going online doesn't make us more gullible."

However, e-mail is a special case. Individuals are much more likely to believe false rumors that they receive in e-mails from friends and family. People seem to be wary about rumors they read on websites and blogs, Garrett indicates, and usually investigate those rumors to see if...