Amy Watson
Research expert covering news and publishing
False news in the UK - statistics & facts
False news is a persistent problem faced by consumers, journalists, and news companies in countries across the globe, and the United Kingdom is no exception. The growing use of social media for news has contributed to the spread of inaccurate and false information which can be easily shared and disseminated by users deliberately or unknowingly, exposing more consumers to dubious content. Younger consumers are also affected: data found that more than half of 12-to-15-year-old children used social media as a news source, and indeed, some saw false news there. With this in mind, how do British youths and teens manage these new challenges?
The study also investigated children’s responses to false news, which varied according to age. Younger teens were the most likely to tell a teacher, friend, or family member upon finding suspicious content. Most children in the survey said they would probably not do anything about the content or simply ignore it, but those aged 15 years were especially likely to respond this way to suspicious content. An encouraging result from the survey was that only a handful of respondents admitted that they would not check the reliability of news on social media if they felt the need to.
Particularly when using online forums, blogs, or influencers for news, ensuring that the news is legitimate via making checks is key in helping to reduce the spread of false and potentially harmful content, an act which will hopefully become common practice for consumers in the UK and other countries alike. With dis- and misinformation on the rise and younger consumers among the heaviest social media users, basic fact-checking skills and an awareness of potential inaccuracies are now things to be considered when consuming news online, and it seems that young Brits are already taking this on board.
How do UK children deal with false news?
According to the most recently available data, over a third of children aged 12 to 15 years old believed that they had seen deliberately untrue or misleading news online or on social media in the 12 months leading up to the survey. A further 34 percent were unsure, indicating general uncertainty about the legitimacy of the content they encountered.The study also investigated children’s responses to false news, which varied according to age. Younger teens were the most likely to tell a teacher, friend, or family member upon finding suspicious content. Most children in the survey said they would probably not do anything about the content or simply ignore it, but those aged 15 years were especially likely to respond this way to suspicious content. An encouraging result from the survey was that only a handful of respondents admitted that they would not check the reliability of news on social media if they felt the need to.
Growing concern about false information
A global survey revealed that over 70 percent of adults in Great Britain were concerned about the spread of false information on social media, the third highest among 18 markets and higher than the global average. Older adults feel especially worried about false information - among those aged 55 years or above, the share who expressed concern was as high as 80 percent. Looking at concern about specific misinformation topics among respondents aged older than 65 years, health and medical misinformation ranked first, followed by false information about UK politics and society. Indeed, with elections set to take place around the world in 2024, there is global concern that misinformation could impact election campaigns and voting behavior, and consumers must be vigilant.Particularly when using online forums, blogs, or influencers for news, ensuring that the news is legitimate via making checks is key in helping to reduce the spread of false and potentially harmful content, an act which will hopefully become common practice for consumers in the UK and other countries alike. With dis- and misinformation on the rise and younger consumers among the heaviest social media users, basic fact-checking skills and an awareness of potential inaccuracies are now things to be considered when consuming news online, and it seems that young Brits are already taking this on board.
