Fake news: belief in post-truth
| Pages | 386-392 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-03-2017-0062 |
| Date | 18 September 2017 |
| Published date | 18 September 2017 |
| Author | Nick Rochlin |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information user studies,Metadata,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Fake news: belief in post-truth
Nick Rochlin
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that the current efforts to combat the epidemic of fake
news –compiling lists of fake news sites, flagging stories as having been disputed as “fake,”downloading
plug-ins to detect fake news –show a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper expl ores the plummeting believability ratings in
conventional news outlets, as well as current efforts to combat fake news. These concepts are situated in
the post-truth era, in which news is upsold on the notion of belief and opinion.
Findings –This paper finds that, in combination with a general mistrust of all news, a fundamental flaw in
the system of clicks-as-reward allows fake news and other clickbait to gain unobstructed virality.
Originality/value –Fake news is a widely discussed topic right now. As this is primarily an issue of
information literacy, library and information professionals need to understand, discuss, and address this
issue as one that is directly related to the profession.
Keywords News, Social media, Fake news, Click market, Clickbait, Post-truth
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Fake news
As we enter the post-trust era, in which facts and evidence have been replaced by personal
belief and emotion, the nature of news, and what people accept as news, is also shifting
toward a belief and emotion-based market. The truth of the story no longer matters.
What matters is that the story falls in line with what a person wants to hear. “Fake news”no
longer means factless or slanderous news, but rather news that is seen to attack a person’s
pre-existing beliefs. This is the truth of the post-truth era.
Mass amounts of news stories are being disseminated via social media. This has
created a situation in which social media platforms like Facebook, technologies
which were designed to be outside of journalism, are now increasingly becoming
intertwined with journalism, and are becoming primary sources in which people see news.
These are no longer just platforms for sharing moments from your personal life. They are
now mediums in which to share stories that you, and those you agree with, like and
believe. But unlike traditional news sources, social media as a news aggregator allows
users to create a bubble of news stories that only pander to their beliefs and opinions.
If a person on my contact list posts articles I do not like, I delete them from my list. I do not
need to see that.
The term “fake news”has become almost a joke; a tongue-in-cheek reference used by a
society in which belief in any news is spiraling downwards. The term is also extremely
polarizing, both socially and politically. And seeing a market in which polarized headlines
sell, both “real”and “fake”news producers are contributing to this post-truth mess. News is
being upsold on the notion of opinion. A neutral and objective story is being lost.
This paper will illustrate that the current efforts to combat the epidemic of fake
news –compiling lists of fake news sites, flagging certain stories as having been disputed as
“fake,”downloading plug-ins and apps to detect fake news –show a fundamental
misunderstanding of the issue. The misunderstanding is that fake news can be contested on
an intellectual spectrum of true-untrue, prescribed by an independent and objective source.
In an era of post-truth and mass social divide, this is no longer viable. The structure of clicks
as rewards on social media is discussed, and is revealed as a system which allows fake news
stories to gain unobstructed virality through a fundamental flaw –people can only vote
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 35 No. 3, 2017
pp. 386-392
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-03-2017-0062
Received 30 March 2017
Revised 28 April 2017
Accepted 17 May 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
386
LHT
35,3
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