Study suggests that false news spreads 70 percent more widely on Twitter
| Mar 9, 2018, 11:15 IST
We all know just how easily rumours and false news spreads on social media. But now, a study conducted by an Insititute of Technology in the US suggests that false news is 70 percent more likely to spread on Twitter. This is reportedly due to an imbalance driven more by people than automated "bot" accounts. About 126,000 stories shared by some 3 million people on Twitter from 2006 to 2017 were analysed to help figure out this data. Twitter and other companies like Facebook have been under scrutiny by the governments for doing too little to stop the spreading of false information.
Media Lab researcher and study lead author Soroush Vosoughi said, "One reason false news might be more surprising is, it goes against people's expectations of the world." He continued, "If someone makes up a rumor that goes against what they expected, you are more likely to pass it forward." Although their studies focus on Twitter they also said that it can apply to Facebook and other social media platforms as well. The study also suggests finding ways to help humans reduce the spreading of false information. Stay tuned for more updates.
Media Lab researcher and study lead author Soroush Vosoughi said, "One reason false news might be more surprising is, it goes against people's expectations of the world." He continued, "If someone makes up a rumor that goes against what they expected, you are more likely to pass it forward." Although their studies focus on Twitter they also said that it can apply to Facebook and other social media platforms as well. The study also suggests finding ways to help humans reduce the spreading of false information. Stay tuned for more updates.