Look at different fake news stories and evaluate why people believed them
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/china-kill-coronavirus-patients/?utm_source
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7205032/?utm_source
News 1: China to seek permission to kill 20,000 Covid-19 patients
Summary: A news story circulated on social media claiming that the Chinese government had requested court permission to kill 20,000 Covid-19 patients. The story quickly spread, fueled by existing rumors of human rights violations.
Fake News Part: This story was completely false; no such official request was ever made by China. The claim appeared convincing because it relied on existing prejudices (China’s authoritarianism and human rights violations).
News 2: Garlic can prevent the spread of Covid-19
Summary: During the early stages of the pandemic, claims circulated on social media and in message chains that garlic could prevent Covid-19. Many people embraced this news as they searched for natural, home-based remedies.
Fake News Part: There is no scientific evidence that garlic can prevent Covid-19. The claim was based on traditional beliefs that garlic strengthens the immune system.
News 3: Corona beer sales were affected by the pandemic
Summary: Some media sources reported that sales of the beer brand “Corona” had dropped because of Covid-19. This was explained through the association between the brand’s name and the name of the virus.
Fake News Part: The decline in sales was not directly caused by “name similarity”; instead, it was due to market conditions, the broader economic effects of the pandemic, and distribution challenges. The report was misleading by creating a simplistic cause-and-effect link.
News 4: 5G towers help spread Covid-19
Summary: At the beginning of the pandemic, many videos and posts circulated online claiming that 5G towers were spreading the virus. Some people even attempted to set fire to 5G towers because of this rumor.
Fake News Part: There is no scientific connection between 5G technology and the spread of the virus. The claim stemmed from misunderstandings of technological complexity and conspiracy thinking.
Question 1: How do people’s existing biases shape what they consider to be “knowledge”?
Rephrased versions:
- How do biases affect our ability to distinguish between true and false information?
- Do people filter knowledge by selecting only the information that matches their own beliefs?
Test Questions:
- True / False: People are generally more likely to accept information that supports their own beliefs.
- Which of the following is an example of “confirmation bias”?
a) Questioning all information equally
b) Sharing only the news that supports one’s own view
c) Ignoring expert opinions
d) Believing random information
Question 2: What is the difference between information that seems “convincing” and information that is actually “true”?
Rephrased versions:
- Does being persuasive guarantee that information is true?
- Does the fact that news looks reliable automatically make it knowledge?
Test Questions:
- True / False: Convincing information is always true.
- Which of the following is an example of information that is convincing but false?
a) Scientific experiment results
b) A visually supported but unsourced news item
c) An academic article
d) Official statistical data
Question 3: How do social pressure and community beliefs influence the way individuals evaluate knowledge?
Rephrased versions:
- How do the beliefs of a community shape an individual’s confidence in their own knowledge?
- Why might people believe false information for the sake of social conformity?
Test Questions:
- True / False: Under social pressure, people may accept information as true even if they personally doubt it, as long as the majority believes it.
- Which of the following is an example of social pressure influencing knowledge perception?
a) Conducting scientific research
b) Sharing a false story believed by the majority
c) Practicing individual critical thinking
d) Collecting experimental evidence
Question 4: How do gaps in knowledge (uncertainty) create a ground for misinformation to spread?
Rephrased versions:
- Why do people more easily believe false information in times of uncertainty?
- How does a lack of information make fake news appear credible?
Test Questions:
- True / False: In times of uncertainty, people often prefer to accept misinformation as “something” rather than nothing at all.
- Which of the following is an example of misinformation spreading in a knowledge gap?
a) Believing garlic cures during the early pandemic
b) Publishing a scientific report
c) Holding an academic conference
d) Following official announcements
Question 5: What does the choice of which sources to trust tell us about the nature of knowledge?
Rephrased versions:
- How does choosing a reliable source of knowledge shape our approach to knowledge itself?
- What is the relationship between the source of knowledge and its truthfulness?
Test Questions:
- True / False: Information from an unreliable source must always be false.
- Which of the following is an example of a reliable source of knowledge?
a) An academic article
b) A conspiracy theory video
c) A WhatsApp chain message
d) Gossip
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