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Thursday, August 22, 2019

Seeing Is Believing: Fake News May Lead To False Memories, Voter Study Finds

“Fake news” is a term that has been impossible to escape in the United States over the past few years. Misinformation and fabricated stories, especially those posted on social media, played a troublingly large role in the 2016 election, and unfortunately, there is every indication that this trend is going to continue heading into another big election year in 2020.

But just how persuasive is fabricated news?

According to a joint study conducted by both American and Irish researchers, fake news almost certainly influences voters, and can even cause many to form false memories based on fabricated news reports they’ve seen.

After analyzing voters in the week leading up to the 2018 Irish referendum on abortion, researchers say that individuals are more likely to form false memories based on a fake news report if it aligns with their political beliefs. Furthermore, the more a topic elicits an emotional response, the more likely a person is to form false memories that support their preconceived notions.

With this in mind, the study’s authors say they expect fake and fabricated news to have a similar effect on U.S. voters in 2020.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's like the old guy in the other post, where he confronts the black MAGA hat wearing guy with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Fake MSM news is a contributing factor to developing TDS.

Anonymous said...


But I'm sure Hillary will be president, that Bill never flew to Epstein's island, that Stacey is governor of GA and that the corrupt ex-mayor of Tallahassee is gov of FL. Oh, and Biden's brain is as sharp and crisp as 30 years ago. They told me so.

Anonymous said...

Using psychological tactics that have been around for centuries but more finely honed and expanded in this decade, the propaganda is unceasing and insidious, just as it should be to fool the vulnerable into things that are bad for them; take a break and let them think and it might be curtains for the whole effort, so it's going to be a continuous thing until they eventually die out or radically change their path.

Anonymous said...

AKA
propaganda

Anonymous said...

Intelligent people aren't falling for the left wing wacko democrat bs and lies anymore.They have used the race card so much it no longer has any true meaning.Now if there is a case of true racism very few believe it so the democrats have shot themselves in their own feet..