Brainstorm | Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Features

'Instead of blaming older adults' online behaviour on cognitive decline, we can take a constructive view where education becomes the remedy' Photo: Getty Images

Why do so many older adults share and believe fake news?

Research shows that a lack of digital literacy could be a major factor in the sharing of fake news by older adults

Fake News • 17 Aug 20

'He was somebody who MI5 suggested was quite deranged, but could be very effective in terms of how he could ignite an audience, which is very much a part of the fascist campaigning at that time'

How William Joyce became Nazi propagandist Lord Haw-Haw

The Galway-reared extremist became infamous as a German wartime broadcaster

History • 31 Jul 20

Portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche from the Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Fine Art Images/ Heritage Images/Getty Images

What Nietzsche can teach us about fake news

The philosopher's legacy has been tainted by erroneous readings of his work and misappropriation of his ideas

Fake News • 03 May 19

Why should newspapers and broadcast media be subject to strict content or conduct codes while none apparently apply to online platforms? Photo: Jose Aze/Getty Images

Why it matters to be media smart

It's hugely important to get people of all ages to check the reliability of the information they see, read or hear across any media platform

Media literacy • 19 Mar 19

"Those who are unvaccinated run the risk of infection, but also create higher rates of infection for others by drastically lowering the effectiveness of herd immunity"

Vaccines and the plague of fake news

Long before social media, vaccination controversies have demonstrated the power of fake news

Vaccination • 30 Apr 19

Newspapers containing fake headlines and stories displayed on a New York newsstand by the Columbia Journalism Review to educate news consumers about the dangers of misinformation. Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

How to beat fake news with algorithms

Can we use machine learning to automate fact-checking and verification in the battle against fake news?

Fake News • 02 Sep 20

An anti-fake news advert from Telekom Malaysia in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Mohd Rasfan AFP/Getty Images

What is the future for fake news?

Fake news is a issue involving many things from freedom of expression and its limitations to data protection and micro-targeting

Fake News • 13 Apr 18

"Depending on how the information is presented, we can be blinded into thinking these claims are credible". Photo: iStock

Can kids spot fake news when it comes to health claims?

Opinion: we are bombarded on a daily basis with claims about how best to improve our health so how can we train children to critically assess what they read?

Health • 07 Mar 18

Did this really happen? Photo: Wikipedia

Why people believe in conspiracy theories

Our desire to impose structure on the world, social influence and confirmation bias are some of the reasons why conspiracy theories spring up with such regularity

Conspiracy theories • 25 Sep 17

A colporteur spreads the news in 17th century France

Fake news! How misinformation ruled in 17th century France

We may be living in a post-truth era, but it is by no means the first era of fake news as pamphlets and notes were distributed in 17th century France to publish outlandish and extreme claims against political opponents

fake news • 25 Sep 17

Fake News