Why Do We Believe Fake News?
We are facing an epidemic of fake news or half-truths (half news) lately. Misinformation is the order of the day and we don’t know what news to believe or not. But the reason is not that people want to read fake news, so the demand has increased. People want real information, especially if it matches their beliefs. Even so, the consumption of fake news has increased a lot.
To understand this phenomenon, we must rely on the psychology of motivation. Besides having the conscious desire to have information that is true, we have other unconscious motivations that lead us to try (at least) to confirm our beliefs. Therefore, we will consider the messages that satisfy said motivations as true. Even when they are wrong (the reverse can also happen).
Need for cognitive closure
One of the motivations we talked about is the need for cognitive closure, which is related to uncertainty. When this urge is activated, individuals feel drawn to simplistic messages that affirm absolute truths. As if that weren’t enough, we all have this need to a greater or lesser degree, and situations that involve clutter and generate uncertainty can even increase the need for closure.
An example of a simplistic message is provided by the news which asserts that immigrants are responsible for all the social problems that we know. This message is simplistic. Because it divides the world between the good and the bad. We are the good guys and the immigrants are the bad guys. It also provides a “scapegoat” for our problems. Offering us a cause. Or rather, a manager. However, the m essages simplistic are more likely to be believed and accepted without much verification.
Need specific results
In addition, one can easily accept messages that affirm a specific result. Whether it is false or true. If they are compatible with what people want to believe. However, we won’t believe anything just because we think the same way.
When fake news is too extravagant, like that saying Barak Obama was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and contradicts what we know or believe is reasonable, it is more likely to be dismissed, even if such bogus news can satisfy our motivation for specific results.
Despite what we have just seen, the lack of knowledge can allow the most extravagant news to be accepted as true. Several studies have shown that the more educated and older people (whom we associate with more experience) are less vulnerable to fake news. This is so because they have more resources in terms of critical capacity. When it comes to evaluating news as false or true.
Experts in fake news
In cases where lack of knowledge is predominant, we usually trust people whom we consider to be experts. When the car breaks down, we call a trusted mechanic. When we get sick, we see a doctor we trust.
In the past, for most informational matters relating to society, politics and the world, we had recourse to respectable social institutions, such as a government agency, a representative of Congress, the President or the mass media such as El País or The world. At that time, the government and the media had control over reliability, and they therefore enjoyed great confidence.
But those times have changed. And neither the government nor the media enjoys the confidence of yesteryear. The recent crisis and the corruption cases have contributed to our trust in them less and less. Faced with this lack of trust in the “traditional” media, individuals have sought other means of information which satisfy the motivation for the closure. And that of specific results.
Fake news poisoning
Advances in the internet and the emergence of social networks have also contributed to the loss of trust in experts. And the increase in fake news. The confusing moment we live in, characterized by rapid changes and growing unrest (e.g. the rise of Asian powers like China and India, Islamist terrorism, economic instability, the refugee crisis, etc. .) led us to require updated information. We want to know what’s going on down to the minute.
This demand, coupled with the void generated by mistrust of traditional sources of information, has paved the way for new sources of information, especially on the Internet and through social networks. There is little or no control over these new sources. Sometimes they change people’s political views in the desired direction. In other words, they manipulate us.
Whatever the remedy, the current scourge of disinformation is worrying. It requires and justifies an effort on the part of social institutions. In order to restore their tarnished credibility.
Our thoughts Have you ever wondered how the viral news industry manages to manipulate us and maintain its market?
