Title

How to reduce the spread of fake news – by doing nothing

Summary

The article emphasizes that although it might seem reasonable to confront or dispute false information on social media, doing so can amplify its reach and effect. The article bases its argument on research, which demonstrates that interacting with misinformation, even to refute it, increases its visibility and the likelihood that others will see and potentially believe it. This is problematic given the severe consequences of misinformation, which can undermine democracy, incite social unrest, and endanger lives by discouraging vaccination in the case of health-related falsehoods. To combat these effects, the article suggests that the most effective strategy may be to avoid false information altogether.

 

َAuthor

Buchanan, T.

Year

2021

َThematic Area

Communication Studies

Topic

Misinformation and Correction

Country

Global

Region

Global

Misinformation Combatting

Combatting Strategies

Place Published

APA 7th End Text Citation

Buchanan, T. (2021, 18 Dec). How to reduce the spread of fake news – by doing nothing. https://theconversation.com/how-to-reduce-the-spread-of-fake-news-by-doing-nothing-152097