‘Fake News’
“false or misleading content presented as news and communicated in formats spanning spoken, written, printed, electronic, and digital communication.” Media scholar Nolan Higdon

Misinformation or ‘fake news’ has been rife in recent years. Have you ever wondered why people persist in believing something false? Even when we are shown verified sources contradicting what we believe, often it is hard to let a belief go. A recent study, published in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications by Newman and colleagues (1), has shed light on what happens when someone is presented with new information ‘debunking’ what they were previously shown, but under conditions of fear. Demonstrating that fear interferes with your ability to take in new information that contradicts what you already believe. In these difficult and often scary times understanding how people will respond when scared is vital for the relaying of public safety information. How can governments combat ‘fake news’ in such a scary time?

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