The impact of fake news on our everyday life

The rapid spread of "fake news" has been the trigger for many studies on the causes of its emergence, the role of social media, and the impact of fake news on our everyday lives, especially at a socio-political level. But what are the incentives to produce fake news and how does it affect us? Why is media literacy important? How can someone distinguish if the information they receive is a truth or lie?

Date 2018-03-26 Author Greek Safer Internet Centre
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The spread of fake news has increased due to the change in the way we consume but also produce information, with social media being a key factor. As a result, each one of us is called upon to check the source of every piece of information we receive, to understand the mission of the specific media and its goals, to analyse beyond what we read, to check the identity of the news editor, and to compare different sources of news before drawing any conclusions.

According to surveys, 6 out of 10 internet users republish a story after reading only the title but not its content. It is striking that 80 per cent of students who have taken part in Stanford University's research on information evaluation have not been able to distinguish a real article from a fake one, or a journal article from an ad. Also interesting is the fact that the criterion of validity for young people is the size of the photo in an article and not the reference of its source.

We all play an important role in this vicious circle. When we passively receive information without double checking or when we share a post, an image or a video without checking it thoroughly, we add a stone to the global disinformation house. The answer to tackling the phenomenon of spreading fake news is the cultivation of critical thinking!

The Greek Safer Internet Centre, in an attempt to educate the public - especially young people growing up in a world in which it is very difficult to discern the real news - has created and published a brochure on online fake news with the aim of reaching schools in every corner of the country. You can find the leaflet in English on the SaferInternet4Kids.gr website.

Find out more about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre (SIC), including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services.

Image copyright of the Greek Safer Internet Centre.

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