Every day, countless bits of misinformation are shared on social media. They can be fake news articles posted on Twitter or phony photos on Instagram. Or maybe a YouTube video presents false information as if it’s true.
People might spread hoaxes for fun or to get likes or shares. But other times, misinformation is about important topics, like the government. The goal of these hoaxes is often to change what people think and affect how they vote.
Experts say false information is most effective when it makes you laugh or feel sad or angry. “If a post or picture or video makes the viewer feel very strongly, they are more likely to share it,” says Sierra Filucci of Common Sense Media. That group helps kids spot misinformation online.
And, Filucci says, when a post has been liked or shared a lot, people are more likely to believe it. They’re also more likely to share it without checking the facts.