scholarly journals “Fake News” Is Not Simply False Information: A Concept Explication and Taxonomy of Online Content

2019 ◽  
pp. 000276421987822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D. Molina ◽  
S. Shyam Sundar ◽  
Thai Le ◽  
Dongwon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Online News ◽  
Citizen Journalism ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Online Content ◽  
False Information ◽  
Message Source ◽  
Different Types ◽  
False News ◽  
Distinguishing Features ◽  
Source Structure

As the scourge of “fake news” continues to plague our information environment, attention has turned toward devising automated solutions for detecting problematic online content. But, in order to build reliable algorithms for flagging “fake news,” we will need to go beyond broad definitions of the concept and identify distinguishing features that are specific enough for machine learning. With this objective in mind, we conducted an explication of “fake news” that, as a concept, has ballooned to include more than simply false information, with partisans weaponizing it to cast aspersions on the veracity of claims made by those who are politically opposed to them. We identify seven different types of online content under the label of “fake news” (false news, polarized content, satire, misreporting, commentary, persuasive information, and citizen journalism) and contrast them with “real news” by introducing a taxonomy of operational indicators in four domains—message, source, structure, and network—that together can help disambiguate the nature of online news content.

scholarly journals Fakes about Coronavirus: Communicational Technologies for Constructing False Messages

Discourse ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
V. V. Vasilkova ◽  
P. A. Trekin
Keyword(s):  
Communication Channel ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Information Giving ◽  
Message Source ◽  
Units Of Analysis ◽  
Fact Checking ◽  
New Interpretation ◽  
False News

Introduction. Interest in the problem of false (fake) news has increased significantly in the situation of the coronavirus pandemic, when the flow of false information considered as an obstacle to the implementation of measures to combat the pandemic itself and its consequences. The authors aim to study the existing works devoted to the analysis of the construction and recognition of false news about COVID-19, paying special attention to the procedures of fact-checking-process of verifying the accuracy of the information contained in the message. The novelty of the author’s approach lies in the use of a content analysis of the fact-checking resource to identify communication technologies for constructing fake news about the coronavirus.Methodology and sources. As a theoretical framework, authors used the information model of communication by Claude Shannon, structuring communication as a process of information transmission and fixing the possibility of noise (distortion) in various parts of this process. The empirical basis of the study was a fact-checking resource that specializes in identifying fakes about the coronavirus (47 units of analysis were considered for the period from March to May 2020).Results and discussion. In the result of the research, specific communication technologies of purposeful construction of false news were identified – distortions in the communication channel, distortions in the message code (content), distortions in the message source. We also identified the types of distortions associated with the content of communication – based on the creation of false content, recoding information (giving it a new interpretation), editing the original. Different frequency of application of these technologies for a given volume of analysis units were been recorded, as well a s the predominance of the technology of distortion of the communication channel.Conclusion. The authors draw a conclusion about the importance and relevance of the topic of constructing fake news in the situation of the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, demonstrate the productivity of using fact-checking resources to identify various communicative technologies for constructing false messages, which creates new prospects for recognizing and countering them.

scholarly journals Looks Real, or Really Fake? Warnings, Visual Attention and Detection of False News Articles

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-180
Author(s):  
Bartosz W. Wojdynski ◽  
Matthew T. Binford ◽  
Brittany N. Jefferson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Information Design ◽  
Correct Classification ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Article Type ◽  
Science News ◽  
False News

Abstract In recent years, online misinformation designed to resemble news by adopting news design conventions has proven to be a powerful vehicle for deception and persuasion. In a 2 (prior warning: present/absent) x 2 (article type: false/true) eye-tracking experiment, news consumers (N=49) viewed four science news articles from unfamiliar sources, then rated each article for credibility before being asked to classify each as true news or as false information presented as news. Results show that reminding participants about the existence of fake news significantly improved correct classification of false news articles, but did not lead to a significant increase in misclassification of true news articles as false. Analysis of eye-tracking data showed that duration of visual attention to news identifier elements, such as the headline, byline, timestamp on a page, predicted correct article classification. Implications for consumer education and information design are discussed.

scholarly journals False news around COVID-19 circulated less on Sina Weibo than on Twitter. How to overcome false information?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Pulido Rodríguez ◽  
Beatriz Villarejo Carballido ◽  
Gisela Redondo-Sama ◽  
Mengna Guo ◽  
Mimar Ramis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
World Economic Forum ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
False Information ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Sina Weibo ◽  
World Economic ◽  
False News

Since the Coronavirus health emergency was declared, many are the fake news that have circulated around this topic, including rumours, conspiracy theories and myths. According to the World Economic Forum, fake news is one of the threats in today's societies, since this type of information circulates fast and is often inaccurate and misleading. Moreover, fake-news are far more shared than evidence-based news among social media users and thus, this can potentially lead to decisions that do not consider the individual’s best interest. Drawing from this evidence, the present study aims at comparing the type of Tweets and Sina Weibo posts regarding COVID-19 that contain either false or scientific veracious information. To that end 1923 messages from each social media were retrieved, classified and compared. Results show that there is more false news published and shared on Twitter than in Sina Weibo, at the same time science-based evidence is more shared on Twitter than in Weibo but less than false news. This stresses the need to find effective practices to limit the circulation of false information.

Fake News

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bente Kalsnes
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Fact Checking ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Different Levels

Fake news is not new, but the American presidential election in 2016 placed the phenomenon squarely onto the international agenda. Manipulation, disinformation, falseness, rumors, conspiracy theories—actions and behaviors that are frequently associated with the term—have existed as long as humans have communicated. Nevertheless, new communication technologies have allowed for new ways to produce, distribute, and consume fake news, which makes it harder to differentiate what information to trust. Fake news has typically been studied along four lines: Characterization, creation, circulation, and countering. How to characterize fake news has been a major concern in the research literature, as the definition of the term is disputed. By differentiating between intention and facticity, researchers have attempted to study different types of false information. Creation concerns the production of fake news, often produced with either a financial, political, or social motivation. The circulation of fake news refers to the different ways false information has been disseminated and amplified, often through communication technologies such as social media and search engines. Lastly, countering fake news addresses the multitude of approaches to detect and combat fake news on different levels, from legal, financial, and technical aspects to individuals’ media and information literacy and new fact-checking services.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Tackling Fake News: Different Degrees of Concern, but Same Problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-238
Author(s):  
Ester Almenar ◽  
Sue Aran-Ramspott ◽  
Jaume Suau ◽  
Pere Masip
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Spanish Population ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
False Information ◽  
Traditional Media ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Media Ecosystem ◽  
False News

In the current media ecosystem, in which the traditional media coexists with new players who are able to produce information and spread it widely, there is growing concern about the increasing prominence of fake news. Despite some significant efforts to determine the effects of misinformation, the results are so far inconclusive. Previous research has sought to analyze how the public perceive the effects of disinformation. This article is set in this context, and its main objective is to investigate users’ perception of fake news, as well as identify the criteria on which their recognition strategies are based. The research pays particular attention to determining whether there are gender differences in the concern about the effects of fake news, the degree of difficulty in detecting fake news and the most common topics it covers. The results are based on the analysis of a representative survey of the Spanish population (N = 1,001) where participants were asked about their relationship with fake news and their competence in determining the veracity of the information, and their ability to identify false content were assessed. The findings show that men and women’s perception of difficulty in identifying fake news is similar, while women are more concerned than men about the pernicious effects of misinformation on society. Gender differences are also found in the topics of the false information received. A greater proportion of men receive false news on political issues, while women tend to more frequently receive fake news about celebrities.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF FALSE NEWS ON DECISION MAKING, ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC OUTLOOK

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
Shama Razi ◽  
◽  
Hamma Jillani ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Rational Model ◽  
False Information ◽  
Moral Principles ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Administrative Model ◽  
False News ◽  
Decision Making Model

In Islam, there is strict prohibition of sneering at people, mocking and bad-mouthing. Islamic perspective shows spreading of such news which isn’t verified and is solely on the basis of guess, suspicion and delusions is prohibited. Moreover, Muslims are forbidden of spreading rumors and false information/news without any verification. There are different models studied under the decision making such as a) rational model, b) the administrative model, and c) the Retrospective Decision-Making Model. Fabrication of false/wrong accusation about any person is another atrocious sin. Muslims rely on moral principles for their decision making process, any false/fake news not only harm their mutual relationships in the society also it will lead to misconceptions. The foremost theme is to keep Muslims away from any commotion which intentionally or unintentionally hurts any other person and he has to be in the pang of guilty afterwards. This study identifies the adverse impacts of spreading fake news and how it is prohibited from Islamic evidences. Moreover, a link between decision making and impact of news on it is developed based on the review of existing literature.

scholarly journals Shades of Fake News: Manifestation, Effects and Ways to Combat False Information

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Alexandru Cristian Dumitrache
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Political Environment ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Detection Techniques ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Different Types ◽  
News Effects

In a continually changing global political environment, fake news has become a widely debated topic by both researchers and ordinary people. Despite the relevance and the diversity of approaches, few studies have focused on the typology of fake news in specialised scientific literature, while proper assessment methods and detection techniques are not well-established yet. This paper addresses the complex concept of fake news, presenting its significance and highlighting its different types, from propaganda to news satire; the moderators of the fake news effects and the ways to counter disinformation. This exploratory study reveals that solutions to combat the phenomenon exist, but they focus more on effects rather than on causes, leaving space open for further research.

scholarly journals Sharing fake news about health in the cross-platform messaging app WhatsApp during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (`10) ◽  
pp. 403-410
Author(s):  
David Araújo Pinheiro ◽  
Mariana Gomes Leitão De Araújo ◽  
Keilla Barbosa De Souza ◽  
Beatriz de Sousa Campos ◽  
Evanete Maria De Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
False News

In the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of false information has spread through social networks. This study aimed to characterize the types of fake news in health and the factors that influence its sharing. This is a descriptive cross-sectional observational study conducted by health scholars who analyzed the messages received in the WhatsApp network and the sociodemographic characteristics of sharers in the year 2020. Results: The level of education influences the spread of false news, and family members have a higher frequency of sharing these news. As for the type of content of fake news, the fabricated content and false context stood out as the most shared ones. The characteristic of the group of researchers may have influenced the receivement of a smaller amount of fake news, since they are able to recognize and refute

scholarly journals ‘Fake news’ is the invention of a liar: How false information circulates within the hybrid news system

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Giglietto ◽  
Laura Iannelli ◽  
Augusto Valeriani ◽  
Luca Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Misleading Information ◽  
Meso Level ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Global Circulation ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Change Of Perspective ◽  
Micro Level

Alarmed by the oversimplifications related to the ‘fake news’ buzzword, researchers have started to unpack the concept, defining diverse types and forms of misleading news. Most of the existing works in the area consider crucial the intent of the content creator in order to differentiate among different types of problematic information. This article argues for a change of perspective that, by leveraging the conceptual framework of sociocybernetics, shifts from exclusive attention to creators of misleading information to a broader approach that focuses on propagators and, as a result, on the dynamics of the propagation processes. The analytical implications of this perspective are discussed at a micro level (criteria to judge the falsehood of news and to decide to spread it), at a meso level (four possible relations between individual judgements and decisions), and at a macro level (global circulation cascades). The authors apply this theoretical gaze to analyse ‘fake news’ stories that challenge existing models.

scholarly journals Measuring the effects of misinformation exposure on behavioural intentions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance de Saint Laurent ◽  
Gillian Murphy ◽  
Karen Hegarty ◽  
Ciara Greene
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Fake News ◽  
False Information ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Multiple Exposures ◽  
Vaccine Information ◽  
False News ◽  
To Receive

Misinformation has been a pressing issue since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, threatening our ability to effectively act on the crisis. More recently, the availability of vaccines in developed countries has not always translated into high vaccination rates, with online misinformation often presented as the culprit. Yet little is known about the actual effects of fake news on behavioural intentions. Does exposure to misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines indeed affects people’s intentions to receive such a vaccine? This paper attempts to answer this question through three preregistered experiments (N=3463). In Study 1, participants (n=1269) were exposed to fabricated pro- or anti-vaccine information or to neutral true information, and then asked about their intentions to get vaccinated, alongside a few other behavioural intentions. In Study 2, participants (n=1863) were exposed to true pro- and anti-vaccine information, while Study 3 (n=1548) compared the effects of single and multiple exposures to novel misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. The results showed that exposure to false information on the vaccines did not affect the participants’ intentions to get vaccinated, even when multiple exposures led them to believe that the headlines were more accurate than in the single exposure conditions. An exploratory meta-analysis of studies 1 and 3 (n=2683) showed that exposure to false information about COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of whether it was in favour of or against vaccines, increased vaccination intentions. We conclude by cautioning researchers against equating exposure to misinformation or perceived accuracy of false news with actual behaviours.

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