Personal responsibility in the era of information wars.
The threat of spreading false information is growing in the world, and it is recognized as the main risk to society in the next two years according to the World Economic Forum. Ahead of key elections in the US, UK and other countries this year, a surge in political disinformation is expected.
One of the channels for distributing such information is paid advertising in social networks. However, most of the false information is spread through the actions of ordinary users of social networks.
Many people share political news online, and some of this news turns out to be false. Fake political news is not uncommon, and it is often found in social media feeds.
The main way to spread fakes is when people share them on their social networks. Some people actually believe these stories and share them by mistake. Approximately 20% of people admit to sharing stories that later turned out to be untrue. But researchers also note that about 10% of people knowingly share political information, knowing that it is false.
Why do people spread lies? Do they intentionally seek to cause harm, or do they think it's acceptable because it supports their beliefs and "can be considered true"?
A new study has found that some people share fake stories because they find them funny or want to emphasize their untruthfulness. Others reduce the severity of their actions, claiming that the spread of fake news is not so important.
These findings suggest that some people behave antisocially towards fake news, spreading false information to achieve personal goals, even if this leads to attacks on others or attempts at manipulation. Such dissemination of false stories can be used, for example, to influence people's political views by supporting a smear campaign against a politician or increasing the influence of a political figure.
People motivated by such motives don't seem to care if the news they're spreading is true, and may even see it as a way of manipulation. At the very least, these people are indifferent to the harmful consequences of their actions.
In contrast, some people share political news, whether true or false, with the best of intentions. They see fake news as a way to make the world a better place.
"Good" reasons for spreading may reflect a desire to protect others (for example, warn them of potential dangers), encourage people to "do the right thing" , or even become socially or politically active. Other people may use spreading the news as a force for good, pointing out that a certain story is false. However, this, in turn, can lead to an even greater spread of false history.
However, when you see someone sharing a false story and think about telling them your opinion or blocking them, remember that they may not realize they are doing harm and may even be trying to do well. It's possible that they were only thinking about themselves, but it's also possible that they shared the story in the belief that it would benefit others.
Spreading false news, even if done with good intentions, can have unintended consequences that exceed the original goals of those who share it. In an attempt to refute misinformation, people may inadvertently promote skepticism and cynicism about election campaigns and the activities of politicians.
One way to reduce this risk and support the fight against misinformation is to follow guidelines on how to report false stories, such as marking them as false on the platform.
And if you yourself are tempted to share material that might not be true, it's best to find other ways to get your message across.
The threat of spreading false information is growing in the world, and it is recognized as the main risk to society in the next two years according to the World Economic Forum. Ahead of key elections in the US, UK and other countries this year, a surge in political disinformation is expected.
One of the channels for distributing such information is paid advertising in social networks. However, most of the false information is spread through the actions of ordinary users of social networks.
Many people share political news online, and some of this news turns out to be false. Fake political news is not uncommon, and it is often found in social media feeds.
The main way to spread fakes is when people share them on their social networks. Some people actually believe these stories and share them by mistake. Approximately 20% of people admit to sharing stories that later turned out to be untrue. But researchers also note that about 10% of people knowingly share political information, knowing that it is false.
Why do people spread lies? Do they intentionally seek to cause harm, or do they think it's acceptable because it supports their beliefs and "can be considered true"?
A new study has found that some people share fake stories because they find them funny or want to emphasize their untruthfulness. Others reduce the severity of their actions, claiming that the spread of fake news is not so important.
These findings suggest that some people behave antisocially towards fake news, spreading false information to achieve personal goals, even if this leads to attacks on others or attempts at manipulation. Such dissemination of false stories can be used, for example, to influence people's political views by supporting a smear campaign against a politician or increasing the influence of a political figure.
People motivated by such motives don't seem to care if the news they're spreading is true, and may even see it as a way of manipulation. At the very least, these people are indifferent to the harmful consequences of their actions.
In contrast, some people share political news, whether true or false, with the best of intentions. They see fake news as a way to make the world a better place.
"Good" reasons for spreading may reflect a desire to protect others (for example, warn them of potential dangers), encourage people to "do the right thing" , or even become socially or politically active. Other people may use spreading the news as a force for good, pointing out that a certain story is false. However, this, in turn, can lead to an even greater spread of false history.
How to deal with fake news
People can react strongly when they see their friends or family members sharing material that they know is false. This is not surprising, because misinformation is often based on negative emotions and appeals to our moral principles. Emotional stories (such as those that scare us) often go viral.However, when you see someone sharing a false story and think about telling them your opinion or blocking them, remember that they may not realize they are doing harm and may even be trying to do well. It's possible that they were only thinking about themselves, but it's also possible that they shared the story in the belief that it would benefit others.
Spreading false news, even if done with good intentions, can have unintended consequences that exceed the original goals of those who share it. In an attempt to refute misinformation, people may inadvertently promote skepticism and cynicism about election campaigns and the activities of politicians.
One way to reduce this risk and support the fight against misinformation is to follow guidelines on how to report false stories, such as marking them as false on the platform.
And if you yourself are tempted to share material that might not be true, it's best to find other ways to get your message across.
