Fake News Beats Real News: Implications For PSYOP

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The NY Times among others ran analysis of an MIT study comparing false news to real news. (see: http://nyti.ms/2pe1hqT, which is also the photo source below or https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/03/largest-study-ever-fake-news-mit-twitter/555104/?utm_source=atlfb  which is the photo source at right). Here are some of the highlights from my perspective:

1.     False news travels faster, farther and deeper through social media than true news.

2.     False claims were 70% more likely than the truth to be shared on Twitter.

3.     Software robots can accelerate the spread of false stories.

4.     When applying standard text-analysis tools, false claims were significant more ‘novel’ (meaning unusual/different) than true news.

5.     From a response perspective:

·      False claims elicited greater surprise and disgust.

·      True news inspired more anticipation, sadness/joy depending on the nature of the story.

6.     There is little certainty about the impact of false news on people’s beliefs and actions.

Clearly these key points are important for counter propaganda analysis. They can also provide some tips and pointers on the PSYOP transmit side as well.

1.     Make your message delivery vehicle different and inviting. Shy away from the listless and the bland.

2.     When developing counter propaganda, build from the emotions that were likely to be stimulated by the false news, especially when that propaganda elicited disgust.

3.     When analyzing propaganda consider Twitter to be among the least reliable of sources. Noting that ‘bots’ can generate significant volume. But also consider that volume of Tweets can be an intelligence indicator in and of themselves.

·      For example in disasters the volume of Tweets can reflect the public’s concerns. Initial high volume at the start of the disaster levels off and tapers off as the impact of the disaster fades.

The ubiquity and volume of social media are worthy of study and should be integrated into our PSYOP curriculum and exercises as a way of helping to create a real world environment.