“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

I read an article some moths ago that I really recommend you guys to read. It was very useful and revealing to me:

https://www.theverge.com/21276897/fake-news-facebook-twitter-misinformation-lies-fact-check-how-to-internet-guide

Don't know how reliable this site may be (maybe Americans know it). At least I saw many of the things that many mass media in Spain are doing to manipulate and spreak fake information (lately about covid-19, basically).

The Verge is one of my favorite technology media sites and I read it every day.  I read that article when it was first published.  The problem is that it is basically promoting a thoughtful, almost academic approach to evaluating information and critical thinking.  A majority of people are incapable of that because they haven't learned how to do it, do not have the intellectual capacity to do it, or simply prefer to wallow in their ignorance while screaming about their rights (and never their responsibilities) as a citizen.  The article is only helpful to a few of the people who will even see it and read it, primarily young people.

https://www.theverge.com/21276897/fake-news-facebook-twitter-misinformation-lies-fact-check-how-to-internet-guide

Don't know how reliable this site may be (maybe Americans know it). At least I saw many of the things that many mass media in Spain are doing to manipulate and spreak fake information (lately about covid-19, basically).

Yes, exactly. When I say "people" I refer to some media (in Spain we have many) and in many cases even governments spreading fake news just for their own electoral interest.

There are people who will believe just about anything, such as the QAnon stuff that started as a 4chan prank to make fun of people who are crazy, ignorant, and stupid.

@eobox91103:

@bearbearbear:

More alarming, some media outlets publish the same fake stories without checking facts first.

Much of this is, of course, politically motivated:  Someone hears a story that aligns with their worldview, and they regurgitate it.

Another troubling factor, though, is that small news outlets in small media markets find it much easier to broadcast someone else's work rather than doing their own.  These people aren't journalists or reporters; they're simply echo chambers.  As you say, though, they have an obligation to check the truth of what they're saying.  But since the process is motivated by a combination of laziness and comfort with the original message, they aren't doing this.

Perhaps there should be a rule that if you broadcast someone else's copy, one must cite the source.

Sinclair requires the stations they own to broadcast their corporate-issued, regressive, ultra-capitalist, authoritarian propaganda word-for-word.  The reporters are forced to parrot the words or find other employment.  There may be some local reporting but the stations are just local propaganda outlets for the corporation that owns them, which is privately-held by the Smith family.  They are just as terrible as the Koch brothers or the Trump family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Broadcast_Group

@andergarcia:

Of course it is very dangerours, I agree. It should be fined and there should be laws to fine people who spread fake news.

More alarming, some media outlets publish the same fake stories without checking facts first.

Yes, exactly. When I say "people" I refer to some media (in Spain we have many) and in many cases even governments spreading fake news just for their own electoral interest.

More alarming, some media outlets publish the same fake stories without checking facts first.

Much of this is, of course, politically motivated:  Someone hears a story that aligns with their worldview, and they regurgitate it.

Another troubling factor, though, is that small news outlets in small media markets find it much easier to broadcast someone else's work rather than doing their own.  These people aren't journalists or reporters; they're simply echo chambers.  As you say, though, they have an obligation to check the truth of what they're saying.  But since the process is motivated by a combination of laziness and comfort with the original message, they aren't doing this.

Perhaps there should be a rule that if you broadcast someone else's copy, one must cite the source.

Of course it is very dangerours, I agree. It should be fined and there should be laws to fine people who spread fake news.

More alarming, some media outlets publish the same fake stories without checking facts first.