What is fake news
What is "news"?
An output of journalism. A field expected to provide "independent, reliable, accurate, and comprehensive information.
What is misinformation?
Falsehood without intent to deceive (error, mistake).
Hoaxes
- Clickbait news pieces
- A falsehood intended as a practical joke, or created to cause embarrassment, to provoke reflection, to garner followers, gain money, create social or political change.
- The authors generally come clean to expose the foolishness of their audience.
These concepts are related.
- Conspiracy belief.
- Conspiracy thinking.
Social Media
Social media is the primary place where disinformation circulates.
Define fake news.
- They are false
- Intent to deceive
- Authors pursue a specific goal
What is disinformation?
Falsehood with intent to deceive (on purpose).
Rumors
Rumors are claims (true or false) that arise from social transmission. Rumors originate from unverified sources; they may be true or false but they remain unresolved.
- Can be misinformation, disinformation or malinformation.
Conspiracy theories and disinformation
Conspiracy theories often provide backdrop for fake news (e.g. 2020 American elections; formed conspiracy theories, riots and disinformation [Fox News]).
Fake news are intentional and have goals, what are they?
- Political gain - Popularity gain
- Profit - Humour
- Fear mongering (spreading fear)
What is malinformation?
Truth with intent to harm, smear campaign
Propaganda
- Information used to criticize opposing viewpoints and convince people of something.
- States (government) are the main actors of propaganda.
- Propaganda is used to support the interests of a particular party and typically has a political context.
Why do people believe in fake news?
- Lack of internet literacy - Misperceptions of reality + confirmation bias
- Political bias - Declining trust in institutions
- Disenfranchisement (feeling of being decentered from the conversation).
What is the keyword in defining disinformation, misinformation and malinformation?
Conspiracy theories
- Specific sets of untrue beliefs, such as a hidden group of powerful individuals with a hidden agenda exerts control over some aspect of society.
- Used to make sense of the complexity of the world or catastrophic events.
What do conspiracy theories and fake news have in common?
- Political identity and conspiracy thinking are predictors of adhesion to fake news.
- Comparable audience.
- Low trust in institutions and legacy media.
- Similar ways of propagation.
Undisclosed advertising
- Sites mimicking real news sites, usually with disinformation.
- Advertisement disguised as news.