A STUDY OF FAKE NEWS IN SOCIAL MEDIA: DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS AN INVESTIGATION
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- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
Background to the Study
The term "fake news" refers to "false information that has been purposefully spread by individuals who have minimal regard for the truth but intend to further certain (sometimes extremist political objectives and earn money off of online traffic." There is also the possibility that false information has been spread by journalists who are unaware that it is false. BBC (2017, March 12). (2017, March 12).
In an effort to differentiate between the various problematic forms of content that are prevalent within the contemporary ecosystem of the news media, Claire Wardle (2017) has proposed a list of seven distinct categories of misinformation and disinformation. This classification contains false connections, false content, manipulated content, satire or parody, deceptive content, imposter content, and created content. False connections and content are also included in this classification. It is dependent on the author as well as their motivation as to what kind of problematic content they employ. Even if heuristics such as these are beneficial, the more recent instantiation of fake news not only raises problems about the content, but also raises questions about the manner in which digital texts are disseminated through digital platforms. Digital writings become a medium for the cultivation of interpersonal connections between users when they are shared on social media sites. Because of these connections, individuals' interpretative processes are influenced, and as a result, they are positioned to interact with the news story or headline in certain ways.
It seems that in contemporary discourse, and especially in media coverage, "fake news" refers to viral articles that are based on fake accounts designed to seem like news reports. Fake news is described by Allcott and Gentzkow as stories that are written with the goal to deceive readers, include false information that can be independently verified, and do so (2017).
In addition, the proliferation of fake news has occurred in the context of ongoing societal changes, such as a growing mistrust of public institutions and the news media (Nicolaou & Giles, 2017), as well as a decline in the number of professional news journalists (Clark & Marchi, 2017), which was necessitated by the advent of the participatory web (Jenkins, 2006). The importance of user-generated content continues to grow within the context of the digital culture of fake news (Grossman, 2006; Mitchem, 2008). Because of this, the news media sector has undergone substantial changes. To be more specific, the means in which news is published and transmitted across populations are broadened by connective media platforms, which has had a beneficial affect on the level of involvement that young people have with news and current events (Greenhow & Reifman, 2009).
Fake news is a widespread problem all over the world. Countries such as the United States of America and other industrialized nations, for instance, have brought attention to the prevalence of fake news. According to the findings of Allcott and Gentzkow's research on the dissemination of fake news during the presidential elections in the United States, the phenomena of fake news is not a new one, and it has a lengthy history that predates the elections (2017). The "Great Moon Hoax" of 1835, in which the New York Sun published a series of articles regarding the discovery of life on the moon, is an example of fake news that has a long and illustrious history. The publication incorrectly credited Sir John Herschel, who was at the time one of the most well-known astronomers in the world, with making the discovery. It was determined after some time that the article was nothing more than a hoax, despite the fact that its readership had substantially grown as a direct result of the fake narrative that was published in the newspaper.
A more recent example of fake news is the "Flemish secession Hoax," which occurred in 2006. In this hoax, a Belgian public television station falsely reported that the Flemish parliament had declared independence from Belgium; a large number of viewers mistakenly believed that this report was accurate (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). It is important to point out that the study was fabricated as a hoax; nonetheless, in order to give the impression that it was more genuine than it actually was, interviews were done with significant Belgian politicians, some of whom were aware that the report was a fabrication. On the other hand, the information was taken out of context and misconstrued as fact, which resulted in a protracted debate in public and increased anxiety around the matter. The democratic exercise that was the presidential election in the United States in 2016, which took place in November, was also distinguished by a lot of false information and fake news (Albright, 2016).
Another instance of fake news in Nigeria was the spread of the urban legend that President Buhari had the Aso Rock Villa Church shut down. At the beginning of September 2015, the mainstream media was flooded with news claiming that President Buhari had purportedly issued an order for the Aso Rock Villa Church to be shut down and relocated. It is said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo erected the chapel at the home so that he could participate in religious services without having to leave the comfort of his bedroom. As a result, President Buhari came to the conclusion that the Church should either be relocated or maybe shut down entirely since its teachings contradict his own religious beliefs. In spite of this, Femi Adesina, who serves as a special assistant to the President on matters relating to the media and publicity, refuted the report by stating that the church in question is, in fact, still active and open for business. Adesina also tweeted photographs taken during the service that was held on September 6, 2015. On January 19, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari traveled to the United Kingdom for medical health. Shortly thereafter, rumors began to circulate that he had passed away. This is an illustration of Fake News. The masterminds were so brazen that they copied the Metro newspaper in the United Kingdom or the Huffington Post in the United States and announced in the parodies that President Buhari had passed away in London. While Metro was reporting that the Nigerian president had passed away, the Huffington Post was alleging that he had been captured on camera attempting suicide. On both of these articles, which contained several repetitions of the same sentences, the same photograph of Buhari was utilized. However, despite these inconsistencies, the spoofs were still successful in driving the internet in Nigeria into overdrive. Some websites and social media platforms spread the news that Buhari had died, fueling the speculation that it was true.
It should come as no surprise that Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, stated in February 2017 that fake news posed a greater threat to the country than insurgency and militancy. In light of the evidence shown above, this should not be surprising. He enumerated other untrue allegations that the Ministry of Information had to contend with, saying things like, "Just recently, we had to disprove the fake news that Nigeria is the most difficult country in the world for Christians to reside today." There was also the fake rumor that the armed forces of Nigeria armed the Fulani Herdsmen and instigated them to carry out assaults. This information was not true. These reports are completely baseless and fabricated, and they have the potential to pit different religions and communities against one another (Premium Times 2017, February 21).
Mohammed spoke during the same month that the founder of chocolate city, Audu Maikori, was arrested by security operatives for publishing a false report about the violence in the southern part of Kaduna State. The governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, stated that, what he posted may have led to killings, and we are trying to link the date of the postings to attacks that happened the next day on Fulanis. Mohammed's comments came after the governor (Pulse.ng2017, March 3).
It is in the light of these instances and many others like it, which show that the practice is taking on a life of its own in Nigeria, that this study sets out to discover how the incidence of fake news is detracting from the credibility that Nigerians accord popular online newspapers operating in the country. This is keeping in mind the point that was made by Ekwueme (2008:91), who stated that: Your readers want the facts that you heard or witnessed from your numerous sources, and not figments of your own imagination. There are a lot of individuals who think that what they hear in the media is the unquestionable truth, and of course there are those readers who think, whether they are right or wrong about it, that anything that is not reported in the media is not genuine. You don't break their trust since they have placed so much faith in you. If you betray it, not only have you compromised the integrity of your medium, but you have also betrayed yourself.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Fake news has recently emerged as a significant problem in contemporary culture, both in the United States and internationally. It is a significant issue in politics, the media, and national security, because it influences both our perspective of the world and the conversations we have with other individuals. Concerns about the impact that fake news has on society are crucial to keep in mind as we get ready for fresh elections, evaluate the degree to which we rely on social media, or have routine talks with friends and coworkers. It is not a problem that only affects the United States. In India and Myanmar, violence has broken out as a direct result of fake news. It is anticipated that it would intervene in forthcoming elections in a number of different nations, including the decision to leave the European Union in the United Kingdom.
On August 13, 1678, King Charles II was made aware of a complex plot by Catholics to assassinate them and capture their throne. Nearly one hundred English Jesuits were implicated in a scheme to restore Catholic authority in protestant England, according to a text that had been unearthed only a few days before. The King thought the situation was completely ridiculous and requested that it be kept a secret to prevent widespread anxiety. However, word got out, which prompted the Magistrate to launch an investigation, which ultimately led them to the vehemently anti-Catholic Titus Oates. The King was convinced that Oates's plan was legitimate because to his brilliant mind, unflappable memory, and self-assurance. Oates said that he had attended covert Catholic gatherings in order to gather intelligence on the organization's activities. He made a lot of accusations and had information on the personal lives and views of a lot of important Catholics. The public of England was filled with rage. In an effort to save the King's life, extreme anti-Catholic policies were put into effect. As a result of the exclusion Bill, the king's brother John, who was Roman Catholic, was removed from the line of succession. The Jesuits were persecuted, and nine of them were put to death by execution while another twelve of them died in jail.
The fact that the entire "Popish plot" was a complete fabrication was undoubtedly the most surprising aspect of it. Titus Oates, together with a purportedly deranged clergyman named Israel Tonge, had concocted the entirety of the text with the intention of inciting frenzy that would cause irreparable harm to English Catholicism. In the course of history, fake hoaxes have become widely believed, but very few of them have had an influence on the world as great as the papal conspiracy. In the late 19th century, similar fake accusations led to the persecution of Jews across Europe in the Dreyfus, Beilis, and Hilsner cases. These scandals were all fabricated, and they were each effective in fanning extreme public wrath. Some instances of fake news, like as the press's popularization of batmen on the moon, can be harmless, while other instances of fake news have carried terrible repercussions for the entire nation or perhaps the entire world. It is common practice to attribute the Spanish-American War of 1898 to the sensationalist kind of journalism known as "Yellow Journalism," which was popularized by Pulitzer and Hearst.
It has recently come to light how much of a risk Nigeria's upcoming elections in 2019 are regarded to be in danger from the dissemination of fake news. A research that referred to Nigeria as "the capital of fake news" also mentioned that the problem is now a rising danger to the continent's digital security. "The situation has gotten so severe that the government of Africa's most populous nation has issued a warning that disinformation might be the greatest threat to credible elections." [Citation needed] Wall Street Journal continued by stating that the media claimed that the federal administration has stated that the distribution of fake photographs coupled with erroneous and provocative remarks have contributed to deaths in specific regions of the nation. "Fake news has upended elections throughout the globe, but it finds particularly fertile root in Africa, where there are 54 countries, more than 1,000 languages, and chronically underfunded local media, all of which hinder efforts to counteract the spread of rumors and disinformation. " Wall street journal stated.
The publication also identified Facebook and its messaging app WhatsApp as two venues where fake news thrives, further increasing "tense ethnic, political, religious, and social differences."
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objective of the study is to find out what students think about fake news in social media. Specifically; the study aim to:
- To find out what students of Delta State University Abraka thinks of fake news in social media.
- To determine the source of fake news in social media.
- To determine the frequency of fake news in social media.
- To ascertain which platform of social media are fake news prominent.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions have been put forward to guide the study. They are:
- What do students of Delta State University Abraka think of fake news in social media?
- What is the source of fake news in social media?
- What is the frequency of fake news in social media?
- What platform of social media are fake news prominent?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The study will validated the statements below;
H0: Fake news are not prevalent in social media.
H0: Fake news are prevalent in social media.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is expected to benefit the Delta State University Abraka, where this study is done as it will help students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff to know the relationship between fake news and social media. This study is also expected to benefit social media users with a view to understand the dangers of fake news and also to know the relationship between fake news and social media.
This study is expected to provide useful data and empirical analysis to other researchers and academics, to have firm knowledge of fake news and its originality in social media arena.
1.7 Scope Of The Study
The scope of the study is fake news in social media and the study location is the Delta State University Abraka. The Delta State University has three campuses with the main campus located at Abraka, Delta State and the other two at Anwai, Asaba and Oleh. Delta State University Abraka has six faculties namely: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Sciences, Facility of Social Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences and 168 Departments. The Delta State University Abraka, is chosen as the study location of this research because it is where the research is being carried out. Demographically, the scope of the study is restricted to students both male and female between the ages of 18 to 40 years in higher education.
1.8 Limitation Of The Study
Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Fake News: This is any content the is presented as information value with deceptive intentions to create unnecessary readership.
Social Media: This is the platform for social interaction between people using the social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instgaram e,.t.c. Social media is becoming very popular for content generation.
Online Contents: This is any information that comes inform of text, picture and video distributed on the internet to reach large number of people.
Online Publication: Online publication is a type of information that a verified news media broadcast to reach larger number of online users.
1.10 Organization of the Study
The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, abnd selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.
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