Survey: Why are there users who believe fakes?

We have been dealing with the topic of “fakes” for 6 years because we already recognized in 2011 that fakes are a serious topic that should not be ignored and that fakes and false reports threaten society and also cause fears trigger the users.

In these almost 6 years, we have published over 10,000 analysis reports, which came about as we responded to user requests, which is one of our main tasks.

The fakes in this sense have not changed from the basic structure - but the topics have shifted.

For many users, fake news fits exactly into their world view!

There have always been fakes and chain letters as well as competitions in which you had to provide your details. But in the past this all took place on the street. What your neighbor used to whisper to you using the silent post principle now takes place on Facebook or various competitions.

In the past, you would quickly fill out a card with your details at a stand in the shopping center and throw it into a box in the hope of winning a great car. Today it all happens on Facebook.

At some point you just stopped believing a word your neighbor said because he was always spreading rumors and you no longer took part in competitions because you had kilos of advertising in your mailbox - but you never won a car.

Fake news: simple answers to difficult questions!

You also stopped listening to the guy on the street who was saying state surveillance and aliens and just thought: “When will this guy finally be immobilized and brought in?” So people learned back then.

Not so on Facebook - at least that's what it gives the impression!

“Fake news”, in whatever form, is being spread almost every minute and dubious competitions from data traders are springing up like mushrooms. And the guy on the street who talked about aliens and surveillance also got a huge stage thanks to Facebook, the audience of which is always filled to capacity.

You get the feeling that Facebook users just don't want to learn and are burning their fingers every day.

We talk (write) to hundreds of Facebook users every day. Give you answers to your questions. We look behind status posts or competitions that need to be checked and we shed light on dubious UFO articles published on the internet.

The fake: It usually stands for simplicity and sensation

But what exactly is it that makes internet users believe fakes and hoaxes?

We ourselves could sit and think about it, which is what we do, but what do the users themselves say about it?

So let’s let the user speak for themselves. On Sunday, February 5, 2017, we asked our users the following question :

“Why are there so many people who even believe this fake news? What is your personal opinion?”

We received the following answers from our community (excerpt):

• because people often don't think about it properly and just pass on the worst crap
• Nowadays people have become too lazy to turn on their brains.
• If it's on Facebook it's probably right...
• Because they just want to believe it? Often so limited in spirit, they are okay with whatever others tell them. Thinking just gets in the way. And if the worldview of the message being spread is similar to yours, all the better.
• They don't question things and don't look for other statements. It's striking, it's simple, it has pictures - baaaam, it has to be right.
• Well, if many people share it, it must be true. And on some topics people get excited and share the post without thinking. I experience it again and again with my friends.

The whole post , including answers directly on Facebook:

> Direct link to Facebook

• Laziness and followership
• When I look at the current PISA study, I'm more afraid of how many more there will be...
• The world is full of complete idiots.
• Because it's easy.
• It's the power of the crowd. We don't necessarily believe one. 1000s of people have already shared it, there MUST be something to it...
• Stupid naive and are too lazy to think hard... just look at the headline or picture and the crap is shared no matter where, when and whether it's even true.
• When I see these in my list, they tend to be the simple ones...
• These fakes seem very realistic and many people are gullible or have no idea. I can actually understand this misconception... luckily I have you and I'm quite suspicious that I won't fall for it... but never say never... a lot of things are very realistic, especially when it comes to emails, it's very dangerous
• Because some people actually have limited horizons. And actually believe what it says. And some of the fake reports are actually made in such a way that I sometimes thought it might be true.
• Because they are simply too lazy to get proper information.
• It's easy to believe everything instead of putting in a little effort or finding out more information with a few clicks
• Confirmation bias, if the opinion “three-armed pink frogs are evil” is confirmed by something, it MUST be right because they always knew that anyway.
• Because everyone only believes what they want to believe...
• Because they simply have too much free time, just watching RTL is enough
• Because they want to believe it and sometimes they even like what is being spread around, incitement and so on
• Because some people want it to be true. In order to be able to explain and explain why they think that way. The biggest issue here is that you are looking for excuses for your xenophobia.
• Because without thinking, they comment on everything that comes before their eyes. Simply stupid and naive.
• Thinking has probably become too strenuous for many people
• Because many people think...if it's on Facebook...then it must be true...and that's the point where I'm worried about my pension...
• Fake usually stands for simplicity and sensation, similar to the phrases of populists. That's why there have always been fakes across all ages and media. Personally, I think a lot of this “news” is audacious, as it plays with people and opinions. That's the worrying thing about it.
• The tragic thing is that these people who share fake reports are in no way interested in clarifying things.
  Then you link them or invite them to like your page and that is completely ignored. And days later some cheese is shared again.
• I always ignore fake news when it comes to fake news.
• In many cases it is certainly stupidity and/or negligence. But it happens to all of us! I wouldn't presume to be arrogant!
• Because common sense works at Billa...
• Above all, I have the impression that many people feel a crazy sensationalism, look, I know something...
• Because people are dull...they don't question. Just always go with the crowd.
• If this message is suitable for confirming your own world view, the reward center in the brain reports, releases the corresponding hormones, and bang!...believable.
  Humans are so transparent...
• Or because they want to help if it says poor people and think they can help
• Switching on the brain is too strenuous for many people in the long run
• People believe what they want to believe - otherwise we wouldn't have been killing each other because of gods for thousands of years
  . Sad but true - thinking is underrated =.=
• Because this fake news fits into their worldview. So the question is how their worldview came about.
• Because in school you systematically learn to swallow without questioning it. about questions! Dancing in a row (having your own opinion, thinking for yourself) is the black sheep.