Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2019

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Communication

Degree Program

Communication, MA

Committee Chair

Sanders, W. Scott

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Della, Lindsay

Committee Member

Della, Lindsay

Committee Member

Immekus, Jason

Author's Keywords

fake news; online environments; social media; Facebook

Abstract

Technology has drastically changed the way people consume news. Due to the rise of online spaces built for users to share content, there has been a rise in the spread of false information. Social media platforms, Facebook specifically, provide their users with personalized content based on their interests. The ease of spreading information online coupled with the anonymity of the Internet, creates a breeding ground for potential misuse of information. This study sought to examine how users view themselves and others were influenced by fake news on social media if the post is denoted as fake, or if the post confirms preexisting beliefs.

Download

Share

COinS