NEW DELHI: Nearly 80 per cent of India’s first-time voters find themselves bombarded with fake news on popular social media platforms, according to a survey by digital rights organization Social & Media Matters.
The study highlighted that nearly 65.2 per cent of the respondents will be casting their votes for the first time out of which 78.9 per cent of respondents have encountered fake news on popular social media platforms. Responses from 636 participants across 28 states were recorded for the survey.
Under the #KeepItReal initiative, Social & Media Matters released its comprehensive survey report titled “Don’t Be a Fool 3.0,” highlighting the pervasive issue of misinformation among first-time voters in India and the urgent need for enhanced media literacy ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 elections.
Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp (29.8 per cent), Instagram (17.8 per cent), and Facebook (15.8 per cent), emerged as primary conduits for the dissemination of fake news.
With 37.1 per cent of respondents admitting to being directly impacted by fake news or misinformation, the survey raised questions about the electorate’s ability to discern accurate information from false narratives.
The study highlighted that nearly 65.2 per cent of the respondents will be casting their votes for the first time out of which 78.9 per cent of respondents have encountered fake news on popular social media platforms. Responses from 636 participants across 28 states were recorded for the survey.
Under the #KeepItReal initiative, Social & Media Matters released its comprehensive survey report titled “Don’t Be a Fool 3.0,” highlighting the pervasive issue of misinformation among first-time voters in India and the urgent need for enhanced media literacy ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 elections.
Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp (29.8 per cent), Instagram (17.8 per cent), and Facebook (15.8 per cent), emerged as primary conduits for the dissemination of fake news.
With 37.1 per cent of respondents admitting to being directly impacted by fake news or misinformation, the survey raised questions about the electorate’s ability to discern accurate information from false narratives.
