False news reaches more people and travels faster on social media than real news stories, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The study, “The spread of true and false news online”, published in the journal Science, analyzed more than 126,000 news stories shared on Twitter during a 10-month period in 2016 and 2017.

The study found that false news was more likely to be shared and retweeted than accurate stories.

Key findings:

- False news travelled faster than real news - 70% more likely to be retweeted.

- False news outperformed real news in almost all categories, i.e. politics, science, entertainment and urban legends.

- False news was more likely to evoke emotions, which could explain why it spreads more quickly.

- Twitter bots played a significant role in spreading false news.

Why does false news spread more quickly?

The researchers believe several factors are at play. One reason is that false news is often more sensational and attention-grabbing than real news. This can make it more likely to be shared by users on social media.

Secondly, false news often plays into people's existing beliefs and biases, which can make them more likely to accept and share it.

Thirdly, false news is often spread intentionally by bad actors, such as political parties, special interest groups, and even foreign governments. These actors can use social media to spread false news to influence public opinion or promote their agendas.

Implications:

The study has important implications for the way we consume and share information on social media. It emphasizes the need for critical thinking and media literacy skills to distinguish between accurate and false news stories.

Social media platforms also have a role to play in combatting false news. They could, for example, implement algorithms to identify and remove false news stories, or provide users with tools to help them verify the accuracy of information.