Fake News and Information Cascades
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6380/1146
The article refers to the power of social media networks such as Twitter, and Instagram in spreading fake information. The article explains how robots and natural algorithms share fake and truthful news articles at the same rate. So, the fact that fake news spreads so fast and is sensationalized suggests that humans tend to spread fake news quicker. Throughout the article it’s shown that people prefer news that’s exhilarating, novel and grief-filled. As the article says, “the top 1% of false news cascades diffused to between 1000 and 100,000 people, whereas the truth rarely diffused to more than 1000 people”, the quote shows that the populace would rather spread false information if+ it’s more entertaining.
This article has interesting connections to information cascades, since in the case of this topic false news spreads faster than the truth. Knowing the algorithm spreads Fake news and true information at the same pace, it means that humans are spreading this information willingly. Since we know that the top 1% spreads information, between 1000 and 100,000 people, it means that many more people are willingly spreading false information. So, as more people find this information more interesting, they share it with their friends and the cycle continues, all because the first few thought the information was worthwhile. This forms a cascade, that reinforces the spreading of false information.