From Fake News to a Fake Life
There’s a well-known phenomenon: reading an old newspaper can be fascinating—until you notice the date. This shows that news isn’t always about newness; it reflects and confirms our worldview, and only deviations from that model truly catch our attention.
The Functions of News
- Reflect the world more or less objectively
- Deliberately distort certain aspects of reality
- Construct an exclusively positive or negative picture of the world
- Focus the audience’s attention on specific aspects of reality
- Intentionally shift the audience’s attention to other topics
Fake news emerged in a world already primed for it. Advertising, propaganda, the interests of those in power or the opposition—all have flooded the information space. Social media has dramatically increased the number of sources, practically erasing the concept of information reliability. In social media, credibility has taken a back seat, even though it was once the cornerstone of traditional journalism.
The Spread and Impact of Fake News
Today, fake news affects everyone. According to surveys, 23% of Americans admitted to sharing such stories; 14% knew they were fake at the time, and 16% found out later. Fakes can be random or deliberately created for many reasons, such as distracting from the truth—something those responsible for negative events might want.
Fake news can also work to change the entire worldview, undermining its foundations at the weakest points. For example, the U.S. intelligence community described the goal of Russian cyberattacks during the 2016 presidential election as “to undermine public faith in the democratic process in America.” According to a Gallup poll, only 66% of Americans now trust election results. While it’s not certain these interventions were the sole cause, they were among those aimed at such outcomes. The world has become less “right”—both in reality and in the information and virtual spaces.
The Role of Bots and Online Manipulation
Not only people, but also so-called social bots, contribute to “cracks” in our worldview. Today, bots generate 60% of online traffic—20% more than in 2015. This active use of bots creates three main problems:
- Influence is distributed among many suspicious accounts
- Political discussion becomes more polarized
- The spread of disinformation intensifies
Bots are now replacing trolls in terms of volume, though trolls remain more effective at harassment and provoking opponents. American sociologists report that 41% of users have experienced such attacks, with 18% facing severe forms like physical threats or sexual harassment. There’s a gender gap: 70% of women see this as a serious problem, compared to 54% of men. Among young women (ages 18–29), 83% consider it important, while only 55% of men in the same age group agree.
Manipulation and Political Division
The manipulative aspect of information reached new heights during the U.S. presidential election. Time magazine even featured Steve Bannon on its cover as “The Great Manipulator.” A colleague of Bannon’s said, “If no one is pushing back against what you’re doing, you’re probably not doing anything that matters.”
Another innovation was the use of Twitter. 69% of Americans said Trump used Twitter too much. However, Trump realized that this allowed him to bypass journalistic censorship and speak directly to voters. Billionaire Peter Thiel defended Trump, saying, “A Twitter war is not a real war.”
Fake news creates a fake life, and we have to react to it as if it’s real. Elon Musk warns of an even greater danger: in the future, artificial intelligence could generate any message. He says, “Robots could start a war by spreading fake news and press releases, faking email accounts, and manipulating information. The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Online Attacks and Moderation
Research into online discussions shows that anonymous comments are six times more likely to be attacks. Since personal attacks provoke responses, early intervention by moderators is crucial to stopping escalation.
Political Polarization and News Consumption
Political division adds fuel to the fire. In the U.S., Democrats and Republicans trust different news sources. This year, 49% of Americans are following the news more closely than in 2016. 15% trust news from friends and family, and 16% of online news consumers often get news from people close to them.
Government Cyber Armies and Information Warfare
Analysis of government cyber units worldwide shows several strategies:
- Generating positive messages to support government positions. For example, Israel engages with critics online, even offering student scholarships for this work. Officials say, “We will ensure official information spreads virally. We won’t leave negative stories online without a response, and we’ll also spread positive messages. What we’re doing is revolutionary—we’re putting public diplomacy in the hands of the people.”
- Engaging in trolling against critics of the authorities, often targeting political dissidents.
- Posting neutral messages that actually serve to distract from important discussions.
In Russia, troll and bot farms have been used both domestically and to interfere in foreign elections, such as the U.S. presidential race—actions that constitute interference in another country’s internal affairs. Russian political talk shows also use tactics to provoke emotional outbursts, with producers seeking “shouters” to stir up the audience, making it harder for viewers to process information. This is considered a mark of success by showrunners.
Why Negative News Spreads More
All of this leads to a flood of fundamentally negative messages. Fake news reflects this trend—at its core, it’s negative news, which spreads more widely for that reason. Why are negative stories more important? Because we tend not to believe positive stories, suspecting they’re PR spin. In fact, 70–80% of the messages around us may be artificially positive. Negative news, on the other hand, is retold much more often. This is a survival instinct: knowing about dangers is more important than knowing about positive things. That’s why stories about credit card scams or subway pickpockets often seem more important than any other information.
News Fatigue and Avoidance
Many people try to avoid news altogether. Greece and Turkey lead in news avoidance (57%), while Japan has the lowest rate (6%). The reasons are clear: 48% say news negatively affects their mood, and 37% say they don’t trust the news.
We’re surrounded by news everywhere. We’ve become so used to it that even fake news no longer surprises us. News, news, news… Fake news tells us about a fake life. But how is that different from stories about Angelina Jolie having twins or the latest Hollywood divorce? Even if those stories are true, they’re so far removed from our lives that they just add to the “junk” in our minds.