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Do We Really Understand ‘Fake News’?
Summary
This article discusses the role of emotions in the spread of 'fake news' and how people often think they are sharing facts when they are really expressing themselves emotionally. Expressivists argue that people often confuse their feelings with reality and this is seen in the way news stories are shared online where people are more likely to share based on strong emotions than to read the content first. The article also argues that the term 'fake news' has become a vehicle for expressing hostility. Finally, it explains that this confusion makes people easy marks for those in the misinformation industrial complex.
Q&As
What role do emotions play in our communication?
Emotions play a large role in our communication.
How do emotions influence our sharing of news stories on social media?
Emotions influence our sharing of news stories on social media by making us more likely to share content that elicits strong emotions, such as moral outrage.
What does research show about the effectiveness of sharing morally laden content online?
Research shows that every moral sentiment in a tweet increases by 20 percent its chances of being shared.
What is the stabilizing function of sharing content online?
The stabilizing function of sharing content online is to express our emotions, particularly our outrage.
How has the term "fake news" changed its meaning?
The term "fake news" has become a trope, so widely used and abused that it no longer serves its original function and has become a vehicle for expressing hostility.
AI Comments
👍 This article provides an interesting perspective on the phenomenon of 'fake news' and how we are unknowingly drawn to emotionally charged content online.
👎 This article relies too heavily on philosophical theories to explain the misuse of 'fake news' and does not present any practical solutions.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about fake news and how our emotions can play a role in how we perceive and share news. The author suggests that we think we are sharing facts, but in reality, we are often just expressing our emotions. He goes on to explain how this confusion makes us vulnerable to misinformation and why the term "fake news" has become so widely used and abused.
Friend: That's interesting. It seems like this article is pointing out that we need to be more aware of our emotions when it comes to news and information.
Me: Exactly. We need to be mindful of our emotions and recognize that we may be biased in how we perceive the news. We also need to be more critical of the sources we are consuming and be aware of the potential for misinformation.
Action items
- Take the time to read news stories before sharing them online.
- Consider the emotions that may be driving your decision to share a news story.
- Research the source of the news story to ensure it is reliable and accurate.
Technical terms
- Fake News
- False stories posing as legitimate journalism used to try to sway elections, spread conspiracy theories, and cause false memories.
- Expressivists
- Mid-20th century philosophers of language who argued that people sometimes think they are talking about facts when they are really expressing themselves emotionally.
- Testimony
- An act of trying to convey or endorse knowledge.
- Outrage
- Strong emotions, particularly moral sentiments, that increase the chances of a news story being shared.
- Stabilizing Function
- The reason an act continues to persist.
- Trolls
- Purveyors of deliberate but disguised falsehoods.