Navigating the fake news landscape
Fake news has become a key aspect of recent journalism, and in turn, our democracy. Misinformation and disinformation has become widespread and alarmingly convincing, especially with advancing technology like deepfakes and AI. In yet another polarizing election season marred by disinformation and harmful rhetoric, it is important to take a step back and analyze what it truly means.
The exact definition of fake news varies slightly, but one point is clear: intent. Fake news is characterized by the intent to deceive by spreading false stories. It is also important to distinguish the difference between disinformation and misinformation. Disinformation is false stories spread intentionally to deceive an audience, whereas misinformation is spread accidentally.
The growing industry of inaccuracy
Specifically since 2016 and the new era of Donald Trump, fake news has become an industry in itself. While a large part of the incentive to spread false narratives is to politically tarnish or promote a figure’s image and further one’s agenda, there is also an incredible financial component.
Social media algorithms favor articles that are clicked the most and spread often. Online ads are a massive source of revenue for these sites, specifically through Google and Facebook. According to Mobile and Social Media Journalism, Google’s AdSense allows fake news distributors to host ads on their websites, receiving a portion of the money paid and getting more clicks. The textbook states that in just four months, one distributor made $16,000.
So if fake news is so prevalent online and the public is generally aware of it, why does it keep spreading? At the end of the day, people choose what to believe, often trusting stories that confirm their preexisting beliefs. The spread of fake news also undermines journalists and capitalizes on the dwindling trust in the media. Social media and search engine algorithms are often tailored to your personal use, reforming your feed into an echo chamber of assertions that support your values.
What we can do to prevent the spread of fake news
There is also the issue of confirmation bias, or the tendency to seek out and interpret information that is consistent with one’s existing beliefs, according to Britannica. Social media is whatever you make of it, and most people unconsciously (or consciously) design their feeds to align with themselves. When fake news is being created in support of your beliefs, people are more likely to consume and spread the stories. It is essential to confront your own personal biases and analyze your feed. Is it representative of the facts or your own truth?
Tech companies should hold some responsibility in the spread of fake news. While I don’t believe they are fully responsible for the proliferation of it, they are responsible for adjusting to the new climate. Companies can do their part by removing the financial incentive, and preventing political ads from appearing so frequently on social media. They are also responsible for their respective algorithms, and should adjust their technology as distributors of fake news advance their methods.
Journalists also play a large role in combating misinformation and fake news. Not only can we expand fact checking efforts, ensuring more accuracy and thorough investigation, but we can promote trust by being more transparent about the process. Most of the public does not know a lot of what happens behind the scenes in journalism or what the process of news gathering, fact checking, and the rest of reporting is like.
Newsrooms such as KCAL News in Los Angeles are taking steps to increase transparency with their communities. In May, the newsroom created a deep dive video into the assignment desk, how it operates, and where they get their information. They also started a new initiative to put the assignment editors on camera to cover breaking news stories as information comes in. By allowing the public to see into the operations, we can build trust with our communities.
Fake news is a major challenge for journalism and our democracy, especially as technology makes it more convincing. It's essential to understand the difference between misinformation and disinformation, as well as how social media algorithms and our own biases contribute to the spread of false stories. Take it upon yourself to check the facts, do independent research and cultivate a network of trustworthy sources. You can also find additional resources on recognizing fake news online.
By Mikayla Melo
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