 This study presents a conceptual framework for how social media news use influences COVID-19 misinformation engagement by inducing belief in such misinformation, with the effects of social media news use on COVID-19 misinformation engagement depending on individual differences in cognition and personality traits. The results suggest that those who frequently used social media for news consumption were more likely to believe COVID-19 misinformation and share it on social media, with low cognitive users being the most vulnerable. The study offers recommendations to newsmakers, social media moderators and policy makers toward efforts in limiting COVID-19 misinformation propagation and safeguarding citizens. This article was authored by Saifuddin Ahmed and Mohammad Ihab Rasool.