Manipulating information online using fake news as a threat to young people

Abstract

Besides unquestionable benefits which we can gain from using media, the relevant threats cannot be ignored. So far, the researchers’ attention mostly focused on cyberbullying and addiction. These days, more and more people recognise the danger, which is an ease with which fake news can by multiplied on the Internet. Younger generations, for whom Internet is a natural source of knowledge about the world, can have some troubles with critical rating of information. Furthermore, he assessment of reliability requires knowledge, commitment, time, and most importantly – a desire to verify of the viewer. The problem seems wider, and it doesn’t concern only young people. More and more often people who are characterized by knowledge and life experience can be fooled by fake news, especially when they are not experts in some fields. The main aim of the article is to characterize the phenomenon of fake news, and also psychological reasons shared by the users of digital world, referred to as ‘trolls’. Also, the methods used to identify fake news on the Internet are described.