ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF SPREADING FAKE NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST DISINFORMATION

Abstract

This paper analyzes the swift spread of news across social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, emphasizing the staggering amount of information exchanged within a mere one-minute interval. It underscores the critical necessity of differentiating between credible information and misinformation, particularly concerning the sources that propagate erroneous narratives online. The analysis delves into the complexities associated with relying on external fact-checkers to validate public postings in real-time, illuminating the pressures these platforms encounter from influential commercial and political entities intent on disseminating misleading content for self-serving purposes. Furthermore, the paper scrutinizes the phenomenon of sensationalized content creation aimed at maximizing attention and engagement, further obscuring the boundaries between factual accuracy and distortion. It also evaluates a range of strategic responses to the challenge of false news on social media, ensuring that such measures do not infringe upon the fundamental internet freedoms intrinsic to its framework. The discussion encapsulates both technological advancements and human-focused methodologies intended to alleviate the consequences of misinformation, striving for approaches that safeguard users and foster an environment oriented towards truth in online discourse. (Meese and Hurcombe, 2021) (Guess and Lyons2020)(Verstraete et al., 2022)