False & simple views spreads faster than the truth
According to research conducted at MIT, in general, false views and lies spread much faster and easier than true stories.
MIT has published its findings in Journal Science on what sort of information travels faster and further on social media platforms, particularly Twitter/X. The data set ranges from 2006 to 2017, looking into posts that were retweeted millions of times.
The research discovered that false stories tended to be retweeted more than true stories. Multiple fact checking companies were used to determine which stories were true, and which were false, aka fake news.
The research, published in 2018, revealed that false stories are 70% more likely to be retweeted than true ones. Additionally, it takes true stories about six times longer to reach 1,500 people compared to false stories.
The study highlighted that humans, not bots, are primarily responsible for the rapid spread of false information. This phenomenon is driven by the novelty and emotional appeal of false news, which tends to capture more attention and engagement.
False Views Are Often Simple Views
It was also discovered that many false views are also simpler views, and the truth is often more complex. This is likely because most people are unwilling to look into things more deeply. This takes time and energy. The easy and lazy opinion is often the one that gets the most traction.
Politicians and the media will often push the simple view if that simple view aligns with their ideology. So, this knowledge could be used intentionally to manipulate and influence elections.
Example of simple views: One side is good, and the other side is bad. This could be political sides, or wars. In reality, the truth is often more complex.
Complex views require more thinking to understand the nuances of the situation or story. It often requires time and energy to research the truth. Plus, because the truth is often more complex, it requires more cognitive power to comprehend. Complex views require a person to hold more than one thing in their mind simultaneously. This includes holding and understanding opposing views simultaneously.
Negative Bias
Research suggests that people do tend to have a significant number of negative thoughts. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “negativity bias,” where negative experiences and thoughts have a greater impact on one’s psychological state than positive ones. This bias is believed to be an evolutionary trait, helping humans to be more vigilant and responsive to potential threats.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone’s thoughts are predominantly negative. Factors such as individual personality traits, mental health, and life circumstances play a significant role in shaping one’s thought patterns.
When someone has formed their opinion, they often look for evidence to support that opinion. At the same time, they will disregard information, including evidence that contradicts their opinion. People will actively avoid opposing views and information to protect their ego, which is tied in with their opinion or belief. Those with strong religious views will also engage in this behaviour.
Conclusion
The data and research shows that false information travels significantly faster and further than truth. This is also partly true because false information is simpler. The false information also mostly tends to be negative. So, the most dangerous information is a combination of being untrue, simple, and negative.
