Researching the spread of fake news and its impact

Summary

A groundbreaking MIT study reveals that fake news spreads far faster and wider than the truth on Twitter. The study, analyzing over 126,000 claims, found that novelty and surprising information drive the rapid spread of fake news. Surprisingly, bots don't play the dominant role in this phenomenon, as human users are more likely to share misinformation. The research also suggests that platforms like Twitter may be underestimating the impact of fake accounts. To tackle disinformation, experts call for more access to raw data and deeper studies across social media platforms.

Takeaways

• 😀 MIT's study analyzed over 126,000 news-related claims on Twitter to understand the spread of fake news.
• 😀 Fake news spreads faster, farther, deeper, and more broadly than true information on Twitter.
• 😀 Truth rarely spreads beyond 1,000 people, while fake news can reach between 1,000 and 100,000 people.
• 😀 Popularity isn't the main factor—fake news spreads just as quickly through less active users with fewer followers.
• 😀 Novelty and surprise in information play a major role in the spread of fake news.
• 😀 Fake news is more likely to be shared when it helps people feel like insiders or makes them look knowledgeable.
• 😀 Bots spread both fake news and the truth equally, but humans are more likely to share fake news than true information.
• 😀 Twitter may be underestimating the number of fake accounts and bots pushing disinformation.
• 😀 The study highlights the importance of analyzing the algorithms behind platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google.
• 😀 Researchers call for more access to raw data from social platforms to enable more in-depth studies on misinformation.

Q & A

What was the focus of the MIT study on fake news?

The MIT study focused on the rapid and pervasive spread of fake news online, examining more than 126,000 news-related claims on Twitter to understand how fake news spreads compared to the truth.

How does fake news spread differently from the truth according to the study?

The study found that fake news spreads significantly farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth. Fake news often reaches between 1,000 to 100,000 people, while the truth rarely spreads beyond 1,000 people.

What role do novelty and surprising information play in spreading fake news?

The study revealed that new or surprising information is more likely to be shared. Fake news tends to be more novel because it's easier to fabricate, which helps it spread more effectively.

Do the most popular Twitter accounts contribute most to the spread of fake news?

No, the study found that even when you remove the most popular accounts, fake news spreads just as far and fast through users who are less active with fewer followers.

How do bots affect the spread of fake news on Twitter?

While bots do spread fake news, they also spread the truth equally. The study showed that even without bots, humans are still more likely to spread fake news than the truth.

What concerns did the study raise about Twitter's handling of fake accounts?

The study raised concerns that Twitter might be underestimating the number of fake accounts and bots pushing disinformation on the platform.

How do bots relate to human behavior in the spread of fake news?

Bots are created by people, and sometimes people act like bots by spreading fake news. This overlap between bots and human behavior complicates the understanding of how disinformation spreads.

What other platforms are involved in the spread of fake news, according to the study?

The study mentioned that platforms like Facebook and Google, in addition to Twitter, are under pressure to address the influence of bots and disinformation, especially in light of the 2016 U.S. election.

What do researchers believe needs to be studied further regarding fake news spread?

Researchers believe that further studies are needed to examine how social media platforms' algorithms are designed, what content is being incentivized, and how citizens can be better informed to assess the trustworthiness of the information they encounter.

Why do researchers want more access to raw data like Twitter's firehose?

Researchers want more access to raw data like Twitter's firehose to enable more in-depth analysis and future studies. This would allow for a better understanding of how information spreads across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.