Attitudes and Behaviors about Fake News: A Case Study in Three Universities

Abstract

Lack of legal regulations and difficulties in enforcement, supporting the easy manipulation and provocation of the masses are among the major disadvantages of social media. Users can the opportunity to send information, photos, videos and narratives about the news events that they witness firsthand through their social media accounts. The malicious use of private and corporate accounts, which had the opportunity to spread the fake information and content quickly, caused their social networks to have a negative reputation for hosting fake news. The news or information process that develops without discipline can naturally cause different effects and confusion. Therefore, the manipulative effect of fake news or information and the evaluation of the impact processes are of great importance. The purpose of this study is to explain the evaluation of fake news of individuals who may be exposed to fake news, to determine decision and impact processes, attitudes and behaviors in dealing with false news. This research is a descriptive field research using a quantitative research method. Survey is preferred as the data collection technique. Within the scope of the study a questionnaire was applied to 230 students studying at three universities in Ankara, Samsun and Eskisehir on a voluntary basis. The stratified sampling method, which is a probabilistic sampling method, was used in sample determination. In order to reveal the attitude and behavior patterns against fake news, the age range and gender variables of the sample representing the formal student population of three universities were taken into consideration. A questionnaire consisting of the use of media, the process of encountering fake news, the decision process of believing / not believing in the news, and verification is applied. As a result of the research, it was revealed that this sample found the visual content more convincing, false news with propaganda and guiding features was common, and it was common in magazine, politics and economy news types.