Contents:
- Medical Video: Cheat Codes - No Promises ft. Demi Lovato [Official Video]
- Why do people easily believe hoax news?
- Understanding confirmation bias
- How to filter and avoid hoax news
- 1. Read the news first
- 2. Find out the source
- 3. Get to know the characteristics of hoax news
Medical Video: Cheat Codes - No Promises ft. Demi Lovato [Official Video]
The development of technology and communication should be a stepping stone for society. However, instead of getting more advanced, Internet users are actually increasingly made anxious because of the emergence of issues that turned out to be mere lies (hoaxes, read hoks). Hoax news won't be a problem if people don't trust and spread it. Unfortunately, many internet users are easily caught up in hoaxes. How could this happen? See the explanation below!
Why do people easily believe hoax news?
According to experts in psychology and neuroscience, everyone has a natural tendency to trust information that is easily digested. This is evidenced by the results of analysis of brain activity with the fMRI scan tool. From the scan, it is known that the brain releases the hormone dopamine every time you succeed in understanding certain facts or statements. Dopamine is responsible for making you feel positive, happy, and comfortable.
While when receiving information that is tricky, it is precisely the part of the brain that regulates pain and is more active sick. So without realizing it, the human brain really prefers things that are simple and easy to understand, not news that must be thought first.
Understanding confirmation bias
Besides the brain's natural reaction to false news, there are other reasons why you can easily trust outstanding issues. Everyone might consider himself smart and critical when filtering information. However, unconsciously everyone actually has a confirmation bias.
In cognitive and psychological sciences, confirmation bias is the tendency to search for or interpret news that is in accordance with the values that someone already has. For example, you believe the firstborn is definitely smarter than the youngest child. Because you already believe in this value, when you meet with a firstborn child, you will look for evidence and justification (confirmation) for that belief. You also ignore the facts and real events where the youngest child is even more intelligent and successful than his siblings.
It is this confirmation bias that obscures the mind when receiving circulating information through news sites, social media, or applications chat. For example news hoax the question of the hammer sickle symbol in the new edition rupiah. Those who are trapped in hoax actually already have the belief that there are certain movements that want to arouse communism in Indonesia. So, when there is the issue of the hammer sickle symbol in the new rupiah that seems to justify (confirm) that belief, they will just take it for granted.
How to filter and avoid hoax news
In the following ways, you can prevent the trap of false news that is spread on the Internet.
1. Read the news first
To trap readers, news sites or content on social media often use excited titles and emotion. Even though when read the contents from the beginning to the end, the news is not reasonable or made up. Always read the news to the end, especially about hot issues that are currently being discussed. Besides that, don't arbitrarily share (sharing) news that you have not read the contents.
2. Find out the source
Get used to find out the source and origin of the news. Sometimes, the issue spreader even dares to compose the name of an expert source or a particular institution so that the news sounds authentic. Make sure the information you get is an official source, for example from a government agency or a trusted news agency.
3. Get to know the characteristics of hoax news
The first hoax feature is the issue is so shocking and triggers certain emotions, for example anxious or irritated. Second, the news is still confusing. There are no official sources who speak up or confirm the truth. In addition, there is usually no explanation that is traceable or reasonable. You may only be able to get information about what happened, not the chronology of the event or the cause of something happening logically.
The third feature is that hoaxes are more widely distributed on social media than on television stations, news sites, or official news agencies.
