The Burden of Truth? Risks of Countering Disinformation in Flanders and the Netherlands

While much research on disinformation has focused on its impact on citizens, this study examines the experiences of those working to combat it. In 2025, disinformation experts – such as fact-checkers, media literacy experts, journalists, and academics – navigate a rapidly evolving information environment while facing severe challenges, including frequent exposure to disturbing content and harassment. By an expert survey (N = 83) within members of a disinformation network (BENEDMO) in Flanders and the Netherlands, we examine how these challenges are perceived by disinformation experts, assessing prevalence and impact. Results indicate that both harassment and exposure to disturbing content are commonly experienced when working with disinformation. While online threats were associated with lower job wellbeing, general exposure did not significantly affect it. Experiencing harassment seems particularly prevalent among fact-checkers. Amid cutbacks in content moderation by platforms, these findings highlight the need to address the specific challenges faced by disinformation experts.