ABSTRACT:The growth of social media has changed people access and consume information, while also facilitated the spread of fake news and misinformation. This study aimed to determine the level of fake news awareness among social media users and evaluate its influence on verification and news-sharing behaviors. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the role of media literacy and fact-checking in countering fake news and identify ways of promoting sustainable use of social media. The study employed a quantitative method of research, and data were collected from 40 participants using questionnaires. The analysis of data involved calculating descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. The results of the study demonstrated that 97.5% of participants were aware of fake news, whereas 50.0% of them always verified information prior to sharing it on social media. Instagram was revealed as the social media platform where participants mostly encountered fake news. Furthermore, the study found that teaching people to verify information and penalizing those who spread fake news were the two most efficient ways of reducing the spread of misinformation. Overall, the findings indicate that although awareness of fake news is very high among the respondents, they continue to encounter misleading information on social media. Thus, it may be concluded that improving people’s media literacy, encouraging fact-checking, and promoting sustainable use of social media are critical for reducing the spread of fake news and misinformation in society
KEYWORDS: Fake News, Social Media, Fake News Awareness, Misinformation, Fact-Checking, Media Literacy, News-Sharing Behavior.
A STUDY ON FAKE NEWS AWARENESS AMONG SOCIAL MEDIA USERS
MS. ASHWITA BOINI, MS. ASHWINI KUSHWAHA, MS. JANAKI SINGH ,GUIDE - PROF. DR. SUNITA YADAV