A study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that 75% of Americans overestimate their ability to recognize false headlines.
Researchers also stated that individuals who were most overconfident in their ability to spot fake news are more likely to spread "bad facts."
John Bebow is the president and CEO of the Center for Michigan and Bridge magazine. He said he doesn’t find the results surprising with the amount of people trying to broadcast fake news, which makes it confusing to navigate information.
“I believe the best hope for news is traditional reporting in the newspaper vein, flawed as it is,” Bebow said. “The question I would suggest for news consumers to consider is: do people really want real news? For those who do, I think there’s plenty of real news out there.”
Bebow said the key to combating fake news is finding reputable and accountable media outlets while also critically self-reflecting in order to avoid publications that perpetuate false narratives.
Citing instances of yellow journalism and Stephen Glass who infamously forged articles for The New Republic in the 90s, Bebow said fake news has always been around.
However, with viral spread on social media and interest groups that share fake news, Bebow said it’s on the rise.
“What is most troubling to those of us who have long been in the news business is that there’s a significant swath of this country that doesn't want news,” Bebow said. "They want their opinions and their worldviews to be reaffirmed, and I would say that's across the political spectrum."
The original study surveyed approximately 8,000 people, asking them to rate news articles based on how they would appear in a Facebook feed and their own ability to determine the truthfulness of stories.
Approximately 90% of participants said they believed they were above average in their ability to spot fake news.
Researchers concluded that “individuals who are least equipped to identify false news content are also the least aware of their own limitations and, therefore, more susceptible to believing it and spreading it further.”
For more pointers on spotting fake news, Bridge has a digital guide with recommendations for consumers to consider when browsing online. Tips include looking up to see if other news sources are reporting on the story, doing a reverse image search and checking out the sources cited in the story.
For the full study, visit the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
