Fake news can take the form of “misinformation” and “disinformation”. The latter is the deliberate spreading of false information to deceive an audience, while misinformation can be unintentional. Disinformation has become a political tool used to influence voters, as was seen in the European Elections in 2019.
It’s a particularly worrying issue because so many of us are unable to tell whether a story is real or false. This has led to a lack of trust in the media; most Europeans don’t trust journalists. Trust in news sources varies from country to country, and by media type. Traditional media, like radio and television, is considered more trustworthy for news and information than online media.
The majority of European citizens agree that fake news is a problem for their country. However, there isn’t as much agreement when it comes to who should be responsible for tackling the issue. Should it be up to journalists, national authorities, or the citizens themselves?
