Why Do People believe in Fake News?
Introduction
Fake news, a pervasive and deceptive force in our information age, thrives on manipulation and deliberate misinformation. Its emergence into the public consciousness has led to the proliferation of wholly or mostly fabricated stories, designed to cater separately to both left and right political affiliations. The blame for this phenomenon lies squarely with the Digital Revolution, which has made it astonishingly easy to disseminate fake news within seconds. Even tech-savvy youngsters, often considered more adept at discerning news authenticity, find themselves ensnared, as evidenced by a Common Sense Media study where 44% admitted confusion in distinguishing fake news from reality. The advent of sophisticated tools further complicates the matter, making it challenging for even experts to decipher truth from fallacy. A vivid example is the circulation of an image online, seemingly depicting President Donald Trump’s heroic efforts during Hurricane Harvey, only to reveal it was captured in 2015, well before his election.
Fake News in Demand
The belief among voters that politicians are habitual liars is nearly universal, contributing to a pervasive lack of trust. Google’s autocomplete suggestions for “politicians are” include terms such as “liars,” “criminals,” “puppets,” and “all the same.” Despite such expectations, events like the UK’s EU referendum and the 2016 U.S. presidential election featured factual inaccuracies. For instance, the claim that the UK sent £350 million per week to the EU during the referendum relied on a flawed conceptualization of costs, conveniently ignoring allowances and direct EU spending on the UK. Craig Silverman’s report revealing the outperformance of fake election news on Facebook during the 2016 presidential election raised concerns about the influence of misinformation on free and fair elections.
Repercussions of Fake News
Fake news is not a recent phenomenon, as historical instances include misleading narratives about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the Cold War. What sets contemporary times apart is the centrality of claims labeling unfavorable news as “fake.” This raises questions about the definition of fake news, its threat to society, and the epistemic and ethical concerns surrounding allegations of news falsehoods. Balancing reporting on controversial subjects becomes crucial, as demonstrated by instances where objections to claims, such as Iraq’s development of weapons of mass destruction, were downplayed. Accusations of ‘That’s just fake news!’ are viewed as a rhetorical device used by the powerful to quell dissent.
Instances abound where individuals or groups label information as “fake news” based on disagreements or dislikes, regardless of the legitimacy of sources and information. Former President Donald J. Trump waged a war against mainstream media, frequently playing the victim card and branding negative news as “fake” or the “enemy of the people.” Jonathan Chait’s observation in New York magazine underscores Trump’s tactic of discrediting the press to diminish the impact of negative stories.
Lies Spread Faster Than the Truth
The global apprehension over false news influencing political, economic, and social well-being is palpable. Research analyzing rumor cascades on Twitter from 2006 to 2017 revealed that false news spread substantially faster than the truth. Approximately 126,000 rumors spread by roughly 3 million people demonstrated that falsehoods reached more people than the truth. The top 1% of false news cascades diffused to between 1,000 and 100,000 people, while true stories rarely reached over 1,000 people. Falsehoods spread farther, faster, and more broadly, with emotional narratives inspiring fear, disgust, and surprise, while true stories elicited subtler emotions such as anticipation, sadness, joy, and trust.
This established fact underscores the challenge: fake news spreads faster, reaching a larger audience in less time than true news. The more people believe it, the more validation it receives, trapping them in a sphere with little connection to reality.
Fighting Fake News
The power wielded by fake news, influencing elections, economies, and public perceptions, demands decisive action. Giant corporations like Facebook, Twitter, and Google, along with individuals, must collaborate on rigorous measures. These include:
- Human intervention: Organizations like the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) enable users to verify sources and flag fake articles on platforms like Facebook.
- Automation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms can discern between fake and genuine content. These algorithms should incorporate reverse image searching to detect edited photos. Research suggests that humans, not robots, are more likely to spread false news, emphasizing the need for unbiased and independent algorithms.
Conclusion
People believe in fake news due to its rapid dissemination, emotional impact, and the challenges posed by the digital revolution. While resources and technology exist to combat this problem, battles over AI frameworks, data ownership, and privacy concerns persist. The public’s understanding of the issue and the willpower of major conglomerates offer momentum for change. Garry Kasparov’s defeat by Deep Blue serves as a precedent for successful technological solutions. If implemented correctly, a future with minimal fake news is conceivable. Until then, Benjamin Franklin’s advice remains pertinent:
“Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see”-Benjamin Franklin.
