De onde vêm as notícias falsas? | Nerdologia

Summary

In this episode of Nerdologia, Chico Camargo delves into the rise of fake news, particularly focusing on those who create it. The story traces its origins to a small town in North Macedonia, where teenagers turned clickbait websites into a money-making machine by creating fake news, especially around the 2016 US elections. As this grew into a global issue, fake news became a powerful tool for manipulating public opinion. With the involvement of social media platforms and political campaigns, disinformation spread widely. The video challenges viewers to question the credibility of the content they encounter online.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fake news is a global issue that affects many aspects of society, from politics to health and more.
• 😀 In 1896, the Lumière brothers' film 'Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat' sparked panic, which highlights how easily false information can spread by manipulating perceptions.
• 😀 Fake news is often created by people who aim to make money by getting clicks on sensationalized articles and misleading headlines.
• 😀 Macedonian teenagers, in the early 2000s, discovered a way to generate revenue by creating low-quality, sensational websites designed to attract clicks.
• 😀 Clickbait, which often promises exaggerated or misleading information, became a major tactic used to increase website traffic and profits.
• 😀 Political events, such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election, provided an opportunity for fake news creators to manipulate public opinion and generate clicks.
• 😀 A fake news ecosystem requires several components: content creators, advertisers like Google and Facebook, and brands investing in ads.
• 😀 In 2017, platforms like Google and Facebook recognized the issue of fake news and took steps to block these types of websites, but the problem persisted.
• 😀 By 2020, countries worldwide were using social media platforms to spread political propaganda and disinformation, including countries like the U.S., the UK, and Brazil.
• 😀 Fake news campaigns often involve fake or automated accounts (bots) to amplify messages, promote division, and manipulate public opinion during elections.
• 😀 The situation in Brazil reflects the global trend of increasing political manipulation through fake news, with platforms like WhatsApp playing a significant role in spreading misinformation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of this Nerdologia episode?

The episode focuses on the origins and evolution of fake news, its business model, and its use in manipulating public opinion, especially through social media.

Where did the fake news business model begin, and how did it develop?

The fake news business model began in Macedonia, where teenagers started creating low-quality websites to generate income through ad clicks. They often used sensational headlines and clickbait to attract traffic.

How did fake news become linked to political manipulation?

In the 2016 US elections, Macedonian teens discovered that creating fake news and spreading misinformation about political candidates could generate significant engagement, making it profitable. This led to a broader use of fake news for political manipulation.

What role did social media platforms play in the spread of fake news?

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were essential for spreading fake news. Fake stories were shared widely, generating more clicks, which in turn provided revenue for those creating the content.

What is clickbait, and how does it relate to fake news?

Clickbait refers to sensationalized headlines designed to grab attention and encourage clicks. It plays a significant role in fake news as it attracts users to low-quality websites where advertisers can earn money from the traffic.

How did the Google and Facebook response to fake news evolve?

By 2017, Google and Facebook began taking action against fake news sites, blocking many of them. However, this didn’t stop the creators, as they simply shifted to new domains or continued their operations on different platforms.

What did the 2020 Oxford study reveal about global fake news campaigns?

The 2020 study by Oxford revealed that 81 countries were using social media for spreading political propaganda and disinformation, indicating that fake news was not only a product of individuals but also a tool used by governments and political campaigns.

How have fake news campaigns been used in Brazil?

In Brazil, fake news campaigns began as early as 2010, with blogs and the Orkut platform spreading disinformation. This activity increased during elections and political events, with fake accounts and bots manipulating public opinion.

What impact did the rise of fake news have on the Brazilian political landscape?

Fake news in Brazil played a significant role in electoral politics, from the 2010 and 2014 elections to the 2016 impeachment of Dilma Rousseff. The use of bots and fake accounts to influence public opinion has only grown in volume and financial investment.

What is the role of WhatsApp in the spread of fake news in Brazil?

WhatsApp is the primary platform for spreading fake news in Brazil. Reports show that individuals were operating hundreds of fake accounts on WhatsApp, sending the same messages to numerous groups, amplifying the reach of disinformation far beyond platforms like Twitter.