Journal Article - Science

The Science of Fake News

    Authors:
  • David Lazer
  • Matthew A Baum
  • Yochai Benkler
  • Adam J Berinsky
  • Filippo Menczer
  • Miriam J Metzger
  • Brendan Nyhan
  • Gordon Pennycook
  • David Rothschild
  • Michael Schudson
  • Steven A Sloman
  • Cass R. Sunstein
  • Emily A Thorson
  • Duncan J Watts
| Mar. 08, 2018


Summary

The rise of fake news highlights the erosion of long-standing institutional bulwarks against misinformation in the internet age. Concern over the problem is global. However, much remains unknown regarding the vulnerabilities of individuals, institutions, and society to manipulations by malicious actors. A new system of safeguards is needed. Below, we discuss extant social and computer science research regarding belief in fake news and the mechanisms by which it spreads. Fake news has a long history, but we focus on unanswered scientific questions raised by the proliferation of its most recent, politically oriented incarnation. Beyond selected references in the text, suggested further reading can be found in the supplementary materials.

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For Academic Citation:

Lazer, David M J, Matthew A Baum, Yochai Benkler, Adam J Berinsky, Kelly M. Greenhill, Filippo Menczer, Miriam J Metzger, Brendan Nyhan, Gordon Pennycook, David Rothschild, Michael Schudson, Steven A Sloman, Cass R. Sunstein, Emily A Thorson, Duncan J Watts and Jonathan L Zittrain. "The Science of Fake News." Science, vol. 359. no. 6380. (March 8, 2018): 1094–1096.

The Authors

David Lazer

Matthew A Baum

Yochai Benkler

Adam J Berinsky

Filippo Menczer

Miriam J Metzger

Brendan Nyhan

Gordon Pennycook

David Rothschild

Michael Schudson

Steven A Sloman

Cass R. Sunstein

Emily A Thorson

Duncan J Watts

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