If You Want to Believe It, You Will
Kondor Róza, 2025.04.11.
According to a classic scientific finding, falsehood spreads six times faster than truth. We live in the age of fake news: Putin’s war, the global pandemic, and social media algorithms have further accelerated the flow of disinformation. But why do falsehoods spread so quickly, and why are we so ready to believe them?
A frequently cited example of wartime disinformation is the claim that Russians did not kill Ukrainian civilians in the town of Bucha—that the photos from the scene were staged, featuring dummies and actors. The goal: to discredit Russia. The same pattern appeared in the rumor that “secret American bioweapons laboratories” were hidden under the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, allegedly sheltering U.S. military experts.
The Azovstal steel plant, April 8, 2023. Photo: Vladimir Aleksandrov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
These claims are entirely baseless—yet they reached millions. Many conspiracy theories can be traced back to Russian sources, designed to sow confusion and deepen distrust. Fake news sites often mix unrelated events and weave them into grand conspiracies. The conclusion is almost always the same: “the West lies,” “America manipulates,” “shadow powers rule.”
We should add that people much prefer to share sensational, shocking, or infuriating information—even when it isn’t true. The coronavirus pandemic was fertile ground for falsehoods; the internet spewed them endlessly. Narratives like “the virus doesn’t exist,” “it’s an American bioweapon,” or “the West is blaming Russia” all appeared—and none were true. Remember when, early in the pandemic, a rumor spread that Budapest would be locked down? Police later arrested the 30-year-old man who had started the panic.
How Can We Tell What Not to Take Seriously?
Mostly by noticing that it’s spreading on Facebook and citing anonymous sources. Facebook does not cooperate in making reach data available to external researchers. The CrowdTangle software once allowed such analysis, but since it’s owned by Facebook, and after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the company imposed restrictions and limited CrowdTangle’s use.
Source: Science
One of the most frequently cited studies on the spread of falsehoods appeared on the cover of Science five years ago. The research, conducted by noted scholars Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy, and Sinan Aral, analyzed Twitter (now X) data—back when researchers still had access. That’s no longer the case, since Elon Musk, owner of X, shut it down.
Science Does Not Communicate Anonymously
Scientists and doctors who publish research don’t hide behind pseudonyms—on the contrary, they strive to have their names listed among the authors in scholarly journals. Reliable scientific information doesn’t appear in Facebook posts, and it rarely urges immediate sharing. Often, it would be enough if people just paused for a moment to think about what they’re reading. Contradictions are usually visible at first glance. Such posts rely on anonymous or vague sources, spread on social media, ask you to “share before it’s deleted,” and contradict common sense or scientific consensus.
Fake news will always exist, and there’s not much we can do about that—but we can seek information from trustworthy sources: scientific outlets, credible news agencies, and verified experts. Always check sensational claims—look for citations, original sources, and above all, use your brain.
https://veszpremkukac.hu/alhirek-hatszor-gyorsabbak-az-igazsagnal
Kondor Róza, 2025.04.11.
According to a classic scientific finding, falsehood spreads six times faster than truth. We live in the age of fake news: Putin’s war, the global pandemic, and social media algorithms have further accelerated the flow of disinformation. But why do falsehoods spread so quickly, and why are we so ready to believe them?
A frequently cited example of wartime disinformation is the claim that Russians did not kill Ukrainian civilians in the town of Bucha—that the photos from the scene were staged, featuring dummies and actors. The goal: to discredit Russia. The same pattern appeared in the rumor that “secret American bioweapons laboratories” were hidden under the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, allegedly sheltering U.S. military experts.
The Azovstal steel plant, April 8, 2023. Photo: Vladimir Aleksandrov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
These claims are entirely baseless—yet they reached millions. Many conspiracy theories can be traced back to Russian sources, designed to sow confusion and deepen distrust. Fake news sites often mix unrelated events and weave them into grand conspiracies. The conclusion is almost always the same: “the West lies,” “America manipulates,” “shadow powers rule.”
We should add that people much prefer to share sensational, shocking, or infuriating information—even when it isn’t true. The coronavirus pandemic was fertile ground for falsehoods; the internet spewed them endlessly. Narratives like “the virus doesn’t exist,” “it’s an American bioweapon,” or “the West is blaming Russia” all appeared—and none were true. Remember when, early in the pandemic, a rumor spread that Budapest would be locked down? Police later arrested the 30-year-old man who had started the panic.
How Can We Tell What Not to Take Seriously?
Mostly by noticing that it’s spreading on Facebook and citing anonymous sources. Facebook does not cooperate in making reach data available to external researchers. The CrowdTangle software once allowed such analysis, but since it’s owned by Facebook, and after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the company imposed restrictions and limited CrowdTangle’s use.
Source: Science
One of the most frequently cited studies on the spread of falsehoods appeared on the cover of Science five years ago. The research, conducted by noted scholars Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy, and Sinan Aral, analyzed Twitter (now X) data—back when researchers still had access. That’s no longer the case, since Elon Musk, owner of X, shut it down.
Science Does Not Communicate Anonymously
Scientists and doctors who publish research don’t hide behind pseudonyms—on the contrary, they strive to have their names listed among the authors in scholarly journals. Reliable scientific information doesn’t appear in Facebook posts, and it rarely urges immediate sharing. Often, it would be enough if people just paused for a moment to think about what they’re reading. Contradictions are usually visible at first glance. Such posts rely on anonymous or vague sources, spread on social media, ask you to “share before it’s deleted,” and contradict common sense or scientific consensus.
Fake news will always exist, and there’s not much we can do about that—but we can seek information from trustworthy sources: scientific outlets, credible news agencies, and verified experts. Always check sensational claims—look for citations, original sources, and above all, use your brain.
https://veszpremkukac.hu/alhirek-hatszor-gyorsabbak-az-igazsagnal
