A team of researchers created a simple model to explain why people read and share fake news. The model looks at three things: veracity (how true a story is), emotional appeal (how it makes you feel) and relevance (how it relates to your life). They also used the Overton window idea to show which ideas seem acceptable at a given time.
The researchers tested the model on tweets about COVID-19 and measured likes, replies and emotional tone. They found that posts with strong emotions, especially negative ones, were more likely to be liked and shared even when they were less true. The team suggests that platforms watch like/reply ratios and emotional tone, and that schools should teach media literacy early.
Difficult words
- researcher — a person who studies or investigates factsresearchers
- veracity — how true a story or information is
- emotional appeal — the ability to cause strong feelings in people
- relevance — how a story or idea relates to your life
- platform — a website or app where people share postsplatforms
- media literacy — skill to understand and check news and media
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Should schools teach media literacy early? Why or why not?
- Have you ever liked or shared a post because it made you feel strong emotions? What did you do afterwards?
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