Fake news: Why do we believe it? - 29/06/22
Highlights |
• | During the COVID-19 pandemic, fake news has spread massively and was called an “infodemic”. |
• | Individuals believe fake news because of the rapid spread of misinformation on social media platforms as well as cognitive, psychological, and sociological factors. |
• | Prevention measures can be put forward in the scope of journalism, education, fake news detection, fact-checking and social networks regulation. |
• | Identifying these determinants may help physicians in their counselling role when talking to patients about misinformation. |
Abstract |
Fake news dissemination has increased greatly in recent years, with peaks during the US presidential elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has addressed fake news creation, consumption, sharing, and detection as well as approaches to counteract it and prevent people from believing it. This update addresses only a part of the fake news-related issues and focuses on determinants leading individuals to believe fake news, noting that rheumatology is scarcely represented. Some determinants relate to the ecosystem of media and social networks, such as the availability and rapid spread of fake news, the unselected information on platforms and the fact that consumers can become creators of fake news. Cognitive factors are important, such as confirmation bias, political partisanship, prior exposure and intuitive thinking. Low science knowledge and low educational level are also involved. Psychological factors include attraction to novelty, high emotional state, and the emotionally evocative content of fake news. High digital literacy protects against believing fake news. Sociological factors such as online communities, or echo chambers, and the role of pressure groups have been identified. The implication for practice can be deduced, including education in media literacy and warning tips, reliable journalism and fact-checking, social media regulation, partnership of media platforms’ with fact-checkers, warning messages on networks, and digital detection solutions. Health professionals need to better understand the factors that cause individuals to believe fake news. Identifying these determinants may help them in their counseling role when talking to patients about misinformation.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Fake news, Misinformation, Social networks, Cognitive bias
Plan
Vol 89 - N° 4
Article 105371- juillet 2022 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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