False information

History

Social media platforms allow for easy spread of misinformation, and misinformation was a major talking point during the 2016 U.S. presidential election with claims of social media sites allowing "fake news" to be spread. Post-election surveys in 2016 suggest that many individuals who intake false information on social media believe them to be factual. The specific reasons why misinformation spreads through social media so easily remain unknown. A 2018 study of Twitter determined that, compared to accurate information, false information spread significantly faster, further, deeper, and more broadly. Similarly, a research study of Facebook found that misinformation was more likely to be clicked on than factual information.