Sophia Vignec
November 18, 2025
Digital disinformation: visual reminders that not everything on social media is what it seems. (Picture by: eSafetyComminissioner)
Fake news on social media isn’t just annoying. It actually changes the way people see the world. What used to be random rumors has turned into something like an “information pandemic”, where false stories spread faster than real ones. One reason this happens is because social media rewards the most dramatic or “out-there” posts. The louder and more shocking something is, the more likes and attention it has the opportunity of getting. A study from USC found that people who use social media share fake news about six times more than casual users (Madrid, 2023). To enhance this, studies also show that fake news spreads faster than accurate information as seen in the journal, Science. Their findings concluded that “false news stories were 70% more likely to be re-tweeted than true stories”, “it took true stories around six times longer to reach 1,500 people”, and “True stories were rarely shared beyond 1,000 people, but the most popular false news could reach up to 100,000” (Kleinman, 2018).
Our own feelings and emotions also play a role. Research shows that “emotions like fear, anger, or uncertainty make people more likely to believe and share false information” (Lühring, J. et al, 2024). When we feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or stressed we do not always stop to think about whether something is true and we pass it on. This concept can be compared to when we were younger, although it still happens throughout life, and how silly rumors spread throughout the grade even though they were mostly untrue. People’s emotions got involved and they spread even faster. Instead of thinking, we pass it on and it spreads like wildfire especially across media. Fake news works because it taps into feelings and reactions which help fuel the fire.
Algorithms add to this and make the problem worse. Social media tends to promote posts that get the most engagement from audiences and since fake news often attracts more clicks and shares these stories get propelled and spread to even more users. This creates the impression that false stories are true because it seems everyone is talking about them. The speed and reach that social media provides makes it easy for misinformation to influence opinions and politics before anyone can check the facts.
So, what can we do? First, people need stronger digital literacy skills. This means we need to learn how to spot bad sources, check facts, and avoid taking everything at face value or in other words, with a grain of salt. Thinking before posting about news that we see also matters. Second, social media platforms could reconsider/rethink what content they prioritize. For example, instead of only valuing posts for the amount of likes, shares, or comments (audience engagement) they have, they could give more attention to accurate and trustworthy sources. It has been suggested by some researchers changing algorithms so reliable information is prioritized (Bateman & Jackson, 2024). Finally, fact-checking is essential. There are organizations and independent fact-checkers but even regular users can slow down the spread of misinformation by doing their own research/fact-checking, pointing out untrue stories and sharing corrections.
Fake news is not just a minor, inconsequential mistake in the system. It is a bigger issue that has the immense potential to affect everyone in any type of population. Social media is designed and was created as a tool to make information travel fast and being human, with human emotions and qualities makes us easy targets to believe false stories. This then creates us unknowing carriers for the spread of misinformation. In conclusion, with better awareness, being more thoughtful online, and checking facts before sharing we can reduce the influence of fake news while also making social media a little safer and more trustworthy.
Works Cited
Bateman, Jon & Jackson, Dean. Countering Disinformation Effectively: An Evidence-Based Policy Guide | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 31, 2024 carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/01/countering-disinformation-effectively-an-evidence-based-policy-guide?lang=en
Kleinman, Zoe. “Fake News ‘Travels Faster’, Study Finds.” BBC News, BBC, 9 Mar. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/technology-43344256
Lühring, J., Shetty, A., Koschmieder, C. et al. Emotions in misinformation studies: distinguishing affective state from emotional response and misinformation recognition from acceptance. Cogn. Research 9, 82 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-024-00607-0 cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-024-00607-0#citeas.
Madrid, Pamela. “Study Reveals Key Reason Why Fake News Spreads on Social Media.” USC Today, 24 Apr. 2025, today.usc.edu/usc-study-reveals-the-key-reason-why-fake-news-spreads-on-social-media/
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