Social Media As A Tool For Propagating Fake News

ABSTRACT

Social media is used for falsehood and all sorts in other to discredit or cause tension, agitations, rancour, resentment, bitterness or umbrage along the divides of any society. It cuts across a great number of people, dealing with all human endeavour. Due to its nature, it becomes possible for it to be used as a tool for political propaganda. Fake news is highly problematic. Fake news, which are often prompted by one or more high-profile incident(s) involving extreme forms, tend to overlook the variation behind the term. This study sort out to highlight why and how political actors just as publicists pick the social media platforms as a means for spreading fake news. The study examined users of certain social networking sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc. and why they spread fake news without verifying. The survey research design was employed using the Taro Yamane’s formula with the simple random sampling technique. 400 respondents were sampled out of which 380 were returned successfully. The findings of the study revealed that social media is dynamic and because of its spontaneity, many people see it as an avenue to spread ills or violence, verbal attacks and discredit smooth running of the government. Carefully vetting one’s sources, and not allowing the social identity ideology to rope you in will help in curb fake news on social media.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

DECLARATION ii      

CERTIFICATIONiii

DEDICATIONiv  

ABSTRACTv

TABLE OF CONTENTS       

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background to the Study1

1.2Statement of the Problem5

1.3Objectives of the Study5

1.4Research Questions6

1.5Significance of the Study7

1.6Scope of the Study8

1.7Limitations of the Study8

1.8Definition of Terms8

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1Theoretical Framework9

2.1.1 Social Identity Theory9

2.1.2 Social Interaction and UGT12

2.2Review of Concepts13

2.2.1Fake News13

2.2.2Historical Evolution of Fake News16

2.2.3 The Psychology of Fake News18

2.2.4 How Fake News Spreads20

2.2.5 Traditional News Process23

2.2.6 Internet News Process24

2.2.7 Fake News and Cyber Propaganda26

2.2.8 Combating Fake News28

2.2.9 Groundwork for Social media Research30

2.3Review of Related Studies31

2.4Summary of Reviewed Studies31

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODS

3.1 Research Design34

3.2 Population of the Study34

3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure34

3.4 Instruments for Data Collection35

 3.5   Validity & Reliability35

3.6 Methods of Data Presentation and Analysis 36

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Presentation 37

4.2Administration and Retrieval of Data37

4.3Discussion of Findings50

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1Summary of Findings51

5.2Conclusion52

5.3 Recommendations52 

REFERENCES55

APPENDIX I59

APPENDIX II