Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It?
The infodiet of young Spanish adults aged 18 to 25 was analysed to determine their attitude towards fake news. The objectives were: to establish whether they have received any training in fake news; to determine whether they know how to identify fake information; and to investigate whether they spre...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Publications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/9/1/2 |
| _version_ | 1797414472724250624 |
|---|---|
| author | Aida María de Vicente Domínguez Ana Beriain Bañares Javier Sierra Sánchez |
| author_facet | Aida María de Vicente Domínguez Ana Beriain Bañares Javier Sierra Sánchez |
| author_sort | Aida María de Vicente Domínguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The infodiet of young Spanish adults aged 18 to 25 was analysed to determine their attitude towards fake news. The objectives were: to establish whether they have received any training in fake news; to determine whether they know how to identify fake information; and to investigate whether they spread it. The study employed a descriptive quantitative method consisting of a survey of 500 representative interviews of the Spanish population aged between 18 and 25 through a structured questionnaire. The results indicate that they are aware of the importance of training, although generally they do not know of any course and when they do, they do not tend to enroll on one either due to lack of interest or time. These young adults feel that they know how to identify fake content and, moreover, that they know how to do so very well. However, they do not use the best tools. While they do not always verify information, they mainly suspect the credibility of information when it is meaningless. However, they do not tend to spread fake information. We conclude that media information literacy training (MILT) is necessary in educational centres that focuses on the main issues identified. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:33:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2de627ab1a4434ba707bcc9698c3351 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-6775 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:33:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Publications |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2de627ab1a4434ba707bcc9698c33512023-12-03T12:30:33ZengMDPI AGPublications2304-67752021-01-0191210.3390/publications9010002Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It?Aida María de Vicente Domínguez0Ana Beriain Bañares1Javier Sierra Sánchez2Department of Journalism, University of Malaga, 29100 Málaga, SpainDepartment of Communication, Universitat Abat Oliba CEU, CEU Universities, 08022 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Applied Communication Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainThe infodiet of young Spanish adults aged 18 to 25 was analysed to determine their attitude towards fake news. The objectives were: to establish whether they have received any training in fake news; to determine whether they know how to identify fake information; and to investigate whether they spread it. The study employed a descriptive quantitative method consisting of a survey of 500 representative interviews of the Spanish population aged between 18 and 25 through a structured questionnaire. The results indicate that they are aware of the importance of training, although generally they do not know of any course and when they do, they do not tend to enroll on one either due to lack of interest or time. These young adults feel that they know how to identify fake content and, moreover, that they know how to do so very well. However, they do not use the best tools. While they do not always verify information, they mainly suspect the credibility of information when it is meaningless. However, they do not tend to spread fake information. We conclude that media information literacy training (MILT) is necessary in educational centres that focuses on the main issues identified.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/9/1/2fake newsyoung adultsSpain |
| spellingShingle | Aida María de Vicente Domínguez Ana Beriain Bañares Javier Sierra Sánchez Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? Publications fake news young adults Spain |
| title | Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? |
| title_full | Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? |
| title_fullStr | Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? |
| title_short | Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It? |
| title_sort | young spanish adults and disinformation do they identify and spread fake news and are they literate in it |
| topic | fake news young adults Spain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/9/1/2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aidamariadevicentedominguez youngspanishadultsanddisinformationdotheyidentifyandspreadfakenewsandaretheyliterateinit AT anaberiainbanares youngspanishadultsanddisinformationdotheyidentifyandspreadfakenewsandaretheyliterateinit AT javiersierrasanchez youngspanishadultsanddisinformationdotheyidentifyandspreadfakenewsandaretheyliterateinit |