It's not just a matter of distracted clicks or hasty sharing. false notices represent a much more complex challenge than we thought, rooted in the depths of our brain. A disconcerting fact emerges from the most recent research: when we come across fake news, our brain reacts in a way almost identical to when you read a real news story. Why?
The Neurological Allure of Fake News
There are no particular mechanisms. It's all surprisingly simple: when we encounter new and surprising information, our brain releases dopamine, the same neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure.
It is precisely this biochemical response that makes fake news so irresistible, especially when it contains shocking or unexpected elements.
The role of our eyes
Le eye-tracking research have opened new perspectives on our interaction with fake news. Researchers have found that exposure to fake news can be predicted with an accuracy of 68,4% based on eye and mouse movements.
This suggests that there are specific visual patterns when we interact with false information, and may lead to the development of AI specialized in “hoax” detection. AI which, despite all the proclamations, does not yet exist. And in fact fake news (including those of the fake "debunkers") continue to make inroads everywhere.
The Memory Trap
One of the most disturbing aspects is how fake news can generate false memories. Almost half of people (48%) can “remember” events that never happened, especially when they line up with their own ideological beliefs. This phenomenon, known as the “congruence effect,” is particularly evident in polarizing issues such as elections, referendums, or discussions about the pandemic. Look here.
The Role of Social Media
The speed with which fake news spreads on social media has created what experts are calling “the perfect storm.” With over two billion monthly users on Facebook e 336 million on Twitter (you choose which platform to blame) a fake news can reach thousands of people in a few seconds.
This combination of ancient psychology and modern technology has created an ideal environment for the proliferation of fake and “hyper-biased” news.
The secret weapon against fake news? A question
Un recent study of the University of Texas revealed an interesting countermeasure. Asking yourself a simple question (“How do I know this is true?”) can activate the brain's critical thinking centers and challenge our prejudices.
A simple practice that can help us evaluate the information we encounter more objectively. Also because research suggests that people with high scientific curiosity and those accustomed to evaluating evidence impartially (such as judges) are less susceptible to “information blindness”. In other words, it is possible to “train” the brain to better resist fake news with education and the practice of critical thinking, but don’t think it’s easy. On the contrary.
Fake news also (sometimes especially) affect people who consider themselves cultured and sufficiently informed. Never let your guard down and consider yourself “superior”!
Among so many false news, one true one: we do not have biological antibodies
The challenge of fake news is not only technological, but deeply rooted in our neurobiology. Understanding how our brains react to misinformation is the first step to developing effective counter strategies. The combination of awareness, critical thinking education, and technological tools is our best defense against this ever-evolving phenomenon.
The real challenge for the future will be to find a balance between the natural tendency of our brain to seek confirmation of our beliefs and the need to maintain a critical and objective approach to information. Only through this awareness will we be able to develop the “cognitive antibodies” to navigate in the age of disinformation.
