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WHAT’S IN A WORD
F
C
e NEWS AND
spiracy THEORIES Compiled by Kerry-Ann Scrase
Fake news is not something new – although with the digital era it has become a bigger issue. False and distorted news material has been around since the birth of newspapers and printed media. It has evolved from the exaggerated stories that have helped popularise tabloids to the shocking headlines, called 'clickbait' that are now commonplace on digital platforms and social media. But what is fake news, and how is it different to conspiracy theories? The term 'fake news' is the broad term used to describe articles that are intentionally misleading and can be proven to be false. It is often presented in such a convincing manner and intentionally manipulates a person's take on real facts, events, and statements.
But why has 'fake news' become such 'big news'? It is because fake news in its modern form is different from the historical forms of journalistic nonsense of the past - the speed at which it is spread, and the magnitude of its influence makes it that much more dangerous.
Photo credit: Freepik
Many people now get news from social media sites and networks and often it can be difficult to tell whether stories are credible or not. Information overload and a general lack of understanding about how the internet works has contributed to an increase in fake news or hoax stories. It is also true that the more you hear something the truer it seems. Media platforms gather information on users - including their demographics and internet behaviour. This is intended to be used by marketers, but it can also be leveraged by those looking to spread misinformation. Using this data, fake news can be designed to appeal to a specific audience to encourage engagement. From there, the content gains even more exposure, even going viral.
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