Fake news is nothing new. It has been around for many years. Here are a few examples of fake news through time:
Social Media
If fake news is nothing new, why is it at the forefront of current issues plaguing society? One big reason is social media (the fuel to the flame).
Social media usage has exploded in the last several years. It has become part of everyday life. In fact, a 2018 survey from the Pew Research Center indicated that 68% of adults get their news from social media. This number is up from 49% in 2012. Social media, like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc., have become one-stop shops for sharing content, interacting with others, and, you guessed it, getting news.
Sharing content on social media has never been easier. One or two clicks is all it takes. But did you take the time to read more than just the headline before you liked, commented, or shared? Is the source reputable? Unfortunately, fake news outlets use social media to their advantage because the before mentioned questions go unanswered, it is easy for them to share things too, they are able to reach a wide audience, and their headlines or images draw people in (also referred to as clickbait).
With so much information present on social media and the sharing of it, it can be easy to skim something and not realize it might be fake. People do not always take the time to fact check something before sharing or commenting.
Other Reasons
Social media cannot be completely blamed, however, for the rise of fake news. Other contributing factors include: