Understanding Fake News Consumption

A Review

Bibliographic Data

ID16901331
AuthorsJoão Pedro Baptista (0000-0002-3684-1923, University of Beira Interior), Anabela Gradim (0000-0001-6968-1957, University of Beira Interior, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume9
Issue10
Pages185
Publication date2020-10-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci9100185
OpenAlexW3093468620
LanguageEN
Citations received47
References cited116

Combating the spread of fake news remains a difficult problem. For this reason, it is increasingly urgent to understand the phenomenon of fake news. This review aims to see why fake news is widely shared on social media and why some people believe it. The presentation of its structure (from the images chosen, the format of the titles and the language used in the text) can explain the reasons for going viral and what factors are associated with the belief in fake news. We show that fake news explores all possible aspects to attract the reader’s attention, from the formation of the title to the language used throughout the body of the text. The proliferation and success of fake news are associated with its characteristics (more surreal, exaggerated, impressive, emotional, persuasive, clickbait, shocking images), which seem to be strategically thought out and exploited by the creators of fake news. This review shows that fake news continues to be widely shared and consumed because that is the main objective of its creators. Although some studies do not support these correlations, it appears that conservatives, right-wing people, the elderly and less educated people are more likely to believe and spread fake news

Advertising · Business · Epistemology · Fake news · Internet privacy · Phenomenon · Political science · Social media · Sociology · Computer Science · Media Influence and Politics · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Media and Politics