Young Spanish Adults and Disinformation: Do They Identify and Spread Fake News and Are They Literate in It?

Aida María de Vicente Domínguez, Ana Beriain Bañares and Javier Sierra Sánchez
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Aida María de Vicente Domínguez: Department of Journalism, University of Malaga, 29100 Málaga, Spain
Ana Beriain Bañares: Department of Communication, Universitat Abat Oliba CEU, CEU Universities, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Javier Sierra Sánchez: Department of Applied Communication Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Publications, 2021, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: fake news; young adults; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A2 D83 L82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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