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posted by martyb on Thursday February 08 2018, @11:20AM   Printer-friendly
from the it's-a-right-wing-thing dept.

Fake News Sharing in US is a Right-Wing Thing, Says Study

A study by researchers at Oxford University concluded that sharing fake and junk news is much more prevalent amongst Trump supporters and other people with hard right-wing tendencies.

From the Guardian:

The study, from the university's "computational propaganda project", looked at the most significant sources of "junk news" shared in the three months leading up to Donald Trump's first State of the Union address this January, and tried to find out who was sharing them and why.

"On Twitter, a network of Trump supporters consumes the largest volume of junk news, and junk news is the largest proportion of news links they share," the researchers concluded. On Facebook, the skew was even greater. There, "extreme hard right pages – distinct from Republican pages – share more junk news than all the other audiences put together.

Polarization, Partisanship and Junk News Consumption over Social Media in the US

What kinds of social media users read junk news? We examine the distribution of the most significant sources of junk news in the three months before President Donald Trump's first State of the Union Address. Drawing on a list of sources that consistently publish political news and information that is extremist, sensationalist, conspiratorial, masked commentary, fake news and other forms of junk news, we find that the distribution of such content is unevenly spread across the ideological spectrum. We demonstrate that (1) on Twitter, a network of Trump supporters shares the widest range of known junk news sources and circulates more junk news than all the other groups put together; (2) on Facebook, extreme hard right pages—distinct from Republican pages—share the widest range of known junk news sources and circulate more junk news than all the other audiences put together; (3) on average, the audiences for junk news on Twitter share a wider range of known junk news sources than audiences on Facebook's public pages.

http://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/polarization-partisanship-and-junk-news/

[Ed. note: page is loading very slowly; try a direct link to the actual report (pdf). --martyb]


Original Submission #1Original Submission #2

 
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by fustakrakich on Thursday February 08 2018, @12:28PM (26 children)

    by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday February 08 2018, @12:28PM (#634845) Journal

    there is no such thing as objective reality,

    Well, there is one. Votes are sold to the highest bidder. That goes for the voters as much as it does for the crooked politicians they reelect.

    --
    La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
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  • (Score: 1, Troll) by frojack on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:33PM (25 children)

    by frojack (1554) on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:33PM (#634991) Journal

    Votes are sold to the highest bidder.
    That goes for the voters as much as it does for the crooked politicians they reelect.

    And there you have another example of Fake News. Not even 5 posts deep into this thread.

    I've been doing this crazy voting thing about 50 years, and I've never met anyone paid to vote, offer me money to vote, offer anyone I know money to vote, heard of any bids. But apparently you have. Please be specific. Name state, place, election-race, and how much was offered. Not expecting names, because then the guilty might reach out and kill you. Because that happens every day right?

    Lets face it, you've made a fake assertion.
    On a Fake Issue.

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
    • (Score: 2) by Wootery on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:38PM

      by Wootery (2341) on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:38PM (#634994)

      Cynicism is edgy and makes you look wise. Why ruin the guy's day?

    • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:40PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 08 2018, @04:40PM (#634996)

      Cluebat: you're not the voter.

      Laws are passed by votes sold to the highest bidder.

    • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday February 08 2018, @05:32PM (13 children)

      by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday February 08 2018, @05:32PM (#635051) Journal

      :-) Nice try... strawman, right? but that's not how it works, and of course you know that. As the old saying goes: Everybody votes for their wallet. And lately there is a high level of antipathy to match. But one way or another, people are in it for the money. The politicians only reflect that, or they wouldn't be so successful. A single reelection says everything about the people that vote for them.

      --
      La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
      • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by frojack on Thursday February 08 2018, @09:13PM (12 children)

        by frojack (1554) on Thursday February 08 2018, @09:13PM (#635202) Journal

        You're the clown who said:

        That goes for the voters as much as it does for the crooked politicians they reelect.

        Stop trying to make it about something I said.

        --
        No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
        • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday February 08 2018, @10:35PM (11 children)

          by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday February 08 2018, @10:35PM (#635250) Journal

          Yes, I said that because it's true. Your silly deflection does not apply. Crooked politicians don't just magically occupy the office for 20 years or more. It takes votes. And those votes have to be bought, not with cash, but a mere promise, and illusion of future prosperity through austerity.

          --
          La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 09 2018, @01:42AM (2 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 09 2018, @01:42AM (#635345)

            > It takes votes. And those votes have to be bought, not with cash, but a mere promise

            Uh, isn't that how this whole "democracy" thing works? Politicians make promises, people vote for them based on those promises. Crooked or not, the process is exactly the same.

            You're not speaking against corruption or whatever, you're speaking against the very idea of democracy :/

            • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @05:10PM

              by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @05:10PM (#635569) Journal
              I think the problem here is not that politicians make promises, but too many voters don't hold them accountable for not following through on those promises. There is after all a fair number of people who will vote merely because a politician is willing to pretend to care about a single issue (both sides of the abortion debate are a notorious example of that).
            • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @06:11PM

              by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @06:11PM (#635620) Journal

              No, I'm saying democracy is only as good as its participants. Like everything else, garbage in-garbage out. People who complain about their (re)elected representatives are being very silly. Maybe they are blinded and confused by the clarity of the count. I certainly cannot share their feelings in light of the very process at their disposal that that can change things overnight should the desire ever arise.

              --
              La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
          • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @08:58AM (7 children)

            by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @08:58AM (#635452) Journal

            and illusion of future prosperity through austerity.

            You had me to this point. Austerity hasn't been a notable component of such promises or the subsequent spending.

            • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @01:29PM (6 children)

              by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @01:29PM (#635489) Journal

              Austerity has been part of the agenda since Nixon. Your other politicians might call it "reform" of some kind, which could explain the confusion, but it is austerity.

              --
              La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
              • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @04:09PM (5 children)

                by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @04:09PM (#635540) Journal

                Your other politicians might call it "reform" of some kind, which could explain the confusion, but it is austerity.

                Sorry, that's not austerity. Austerity is a recent buzzword for policies forcibly imposed on the economically more dysfunctional countries of Europe such as Greece and Cyprus. And fiscal conservatism has been a thing much longer than Nixon.

                I would classify this whole mess of issues as voting for promises rather than actions. Promises are very cheap to deliver.

                • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @04:57PM (4 children)

                  by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @04:57PM (#635562) Journal

                  I would classify this whole mess of issues as voting for promises

                  Yes, voters sell their votes for a promise, and they are told to reduce their expectations so the same promise can be made for reelection.

                  "fiscal conservatism" and "austerity" may differ by degree, but not in principle. One just makes the other appear more palatable. What happened in Greece and Cyprus was outright theft of government assets by the banks, pretty much what other "free trade" agreements are doing to the rest of the world.

                  --
                  La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
                  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @05:31PM (3 children)

                    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @05:31PM (#635596) Journal

                    Yes, voters sell their votes for a promise, and they are told to reduce their expectations so the same promise can be made for reelection.

                    Ok, what is supposed to be the problem with that? Sounds like the expectations are made more realistic in that case.

                    What happened in Greece and Cyprus was outright theft of government assets by the banks

                    And if it had gone the other way, it would have been theft of bank assets by those governments. Those governments have been borrowing money for a long time in bad faith and the banks had been lending in a similar bad faith. The best solution would have been for both sides to take a haircut. Have those countries go into austerity but with a portion of the loans forgiven at the expense of the banks.

                    • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @05:43PM (2 children)

                      by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @05:43PM (#635603) Journal

                      Ok, what is supposed to be the problem with that?

                      I am merely pointing out why corrupt politicians keep their jobs. It is the voters who keep them there for their own personal reasons, yet try to pass blame when things go wrong. That is the objective reality that was sarcastically being 'denied' that I was commenting on, and some people seem to have some doubts, and I am asking why they would deny some of the most obvious things about nature.

                      --
                      La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
                      • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @06:19PM (1 child)

                        by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @06:19PM (#635629) Journal
                        And I'm merely pointing out that managing expectations is a trait of an effective politician not necessarily a corrupt one.
                        • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @06:49PM

                          by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @06:49PM (#635647) Journal

                          Well, you're right. In absolute terms, "corruption" is a poor choice of words, taken from a non-neutral viewpoint. Maybe I sent a mixed message. I am really targeting the people who complain about politicians and the "system" in general. It is no more "corrupt" than they are.

                          --
                          La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
    • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by khallow on Thursday February 08 2018, @10:43PM (6 children)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Thursday February 08 2018, @10:43PM (#635259) Journal

      I've been doing this crazy voting thing about 50 years, and I've never met anyone paid to vote, offer me money to vote, offer anyone I know money to vote, heard of any bids.

      I have. Anyone who votes to protect funds they receive from government, be it health care payouts, Social Security, a government funding stream, etc has been successfully paid to vote.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 09 2018, @01:55AM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 09 2018, @01:55AM (#635349)

        Oh please, spare me. That's 100% of population. Of course people vote based on their (perceived) self interest. Some vote for social programs, some vote for tax cuts and military, some vote for religion...

        What's your problem anyway? I though self-interest was the holy grail of you Randian assholes. When it's other people's self-interest, now it's suddenly immoral and unfair? Boo-fucking-hoo.

        • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @05:34PM

          by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @05:34PM (#635599) Journal

          Of course people vote based on their (perceived) self interest.

          The point here is that the future of their democracy is also in their self interest. But these programs create a conflict of interest where people are voting for the swag rather than a well operating and low corruption government.

        • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @06:00PM

          by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @06:00PM (#635616) Journal

          When it's other people's self-interest, now it's suddenly immoral and unfair?

          You should try to understand libertarianism first. The problem here isn't that other people have self-interest, but instead that they are using the power of government to further their self-interest at the expense of many other people and the future of their country. Libertarians don't do that.

          For example, we have the sorry spectacle of a considerable portion of the developing world sacrificing the future of its youth just so the older generations can have a more comfortable retirement.

      • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday February 09 2018, @07:01AM (2 children)

        by aristarchus (2645) on Friday February 09 2018, @07:01AM (#635428) Journal

        Just because you have voted to protect your government contract, that does not mean everyone with a government contract does the same, khallow. Some actually provide the bid for service at the highest quality and the lowest cost. So who is your uncle that keeps you on the government tit? My god, I have known so many of these types, people with DOD positions, because they were related to high ranking officers, even though they were mentally deficient, much like the aforementioned khallow, and Ethanol_fueled. Affirmative action, y'all? So, who are your relatives, khallow? We all know you could not have gotten your job based on your native intelligence.

        • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday February 09 2018, @08:52AM (1 child)

          by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 09 2018, @08:52AM (#635449) Journal

          Some actually provide the bid for service at the highest quality and the lowest cost.

          Sounds like you've been hitting the pixie dust a bit much. But sure, I agree, there are situations where there is only one bidder and hence, trivially, the bid is highest quality and lowest cost available. It also happens to be lowest quality and highest cost, but hey, it's not my money anymore once the taxman taketh.

          So who is your uncle that keeps you on the government tit? My god, I have known so many of these types, people with DOD positions, because they were related to high ranking officers, even though they were mentally deficient, much like the aforementioned khallow, and Ethanol_fueled.

          And I thought I was triggered! I'm also still on the fence as to whether you are EF or not.

          We all know you could not have gotten your job based on your native intelligence.

          Interesting that you have moved on to purely imaginary personal attacks. Very classy.

          I remain concerned that you'll leave us in our hour of need. Who will waste our time in the future once you're gone? Does that mean EF will leave us too?

          • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday February 09 2018, @09:11AM

            by aristarchus (2645) on Friday February 09 2018, @09:11AM (#635456) Journal

            I remain concerned that you'll leave us in our hour of need.

            You have been saying this for years now, khallow. It is about as accurate at your other predictions, and as truthful as your assertions in this particular instance, which, by the way, is way off topic. Personal attacks? You weasel, you.

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday February 09 2018, @05:46PM

      by Freeman (732) on Friday February 09 2018, @05:46PM (#635605) Journal

      The biggest thing I heard about from Liberal voters when Obama was running and in Office was how great "Obamacare" would be. It was going to give everyone health insurance and would reduce costs! Very soon after "Obamacare" went it effect, magically we had a significant bump Up in cost of health insurance. I also didn't hear much touting of how awesome "Obamacare" was from them, either.

      You can say, No one offers Me money to vote, but you would be wrong. The Politicans Promise, better wages, hand-outs to the needy, etc. Yes, I support helping those in need. No, I don't think we should make it so that the Only way to get by for some people is to have more children, so they can get that extra money. You know, so they can spend it on needed things like Cigarettes and Beer.

      Sure, you're not literally paid money by some shady guy in an alley for your vote. That doesn't mean politicians haven't been buying votes.

      The most interesting example I can think of is Davy Crockett. When he was running against someone, he would talk first, then invite everyone out to the bar, before the other guy could speak. Quite nearly, literally, buying their votes. Apparently, this wasn't a novelty in the era, either. https://johncashon.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/davy-crockett-and-the-coon-skin-trick/comment-page-1/ [wordpress.com]

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
    • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 09 2018, @06:15PM

      by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday February 09 2018, @06:15PM (#635623) Journal

      Lets face it, you've made a fake assertion.

      Did I really [jsonline.com]??

      Gee! I feel so very sorry!

      --
      La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..