A new study suggests fake news might have won Donald Trump the 2016 election

[Soph0571]

Trump won't like this new study one bit.

The study from researchers at Ohio State University finds that fake news probably played a significant role in depressing Hillary Clinton's support on Election Day. The study, which has not been peer-reviewed but which may be the first look at how fake news affected voter choices, suggests that about 4 percent of President Barack Obama's 2012 supporters were dissuaded from voting for Clinton in 2016 by belief in fake news stories.
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Here are the false stories, along with the percentages of Obama supporters who believed they were at least “probably” true (in parenthesis):

Clinton was in “very poor health due to a serious illness” (12 percent)
Pope Francis endorsed Trump (8 percent)
Clinton approved weapons sales to Islamic jihadists, “including ISIS” (20 percent)
Overall about one-quarter of 2012 Obama voters believed at least one of these stories, and of that group 45 percent voted for Clinton. Of those who believed none of the fake news stories, 89 percent voted for Clinton.

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/04/03/a-new-study-suggests-fake-news-might-have-won-donald-trump-the-2016-election/?utm_term=.71464a657082|

[Matthew28]

1. Yep

It worked over time convincing people that Hillary was corrupt and a crook. You couldn't turn your head without running into this crap and it was effective.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. And the GOP is

going to use the same ol same,only this go around,they are including Nancy Pelosi.

[elleng]

2. As Malaysia Moves to Ban Fake News, Worries About Who Decides the Truth.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In highway billboards and radio announcements, the government of Malaysia is warning of a new enemy: “fake news.”

On Monday, the lower house of Parliament passed a bill outlawing fake news, the first measure of its kind in the world. The proposal, which allows for up to six years in prison for publishing or circulating misleading information, is expected to pass the Senate this week and to come into effect soon after.

The legislation would punish not only those who are behind fake news but also anyone who maliciously spreads such material. Online service providers would be responsible for third-party content, and anyone could lodge a complaint. As long as Malaysia or Malaysians are affected, fake news generated outside the country is also subject to prosecution.

What qualifies as fake news, however, is ill defined. Ultimately, the government would be given broad latitude to decide what constitutes fact in Malaysia.

“Fake news has become a global phenomenon, but Malaysia is at the tip of the spear in trying to fight it with an anti-fake news law,” said Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek, a senior official with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. “When the American president made ‘fake news’ into a buzzword, the world woke up.”'>>>


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/world/asia/malaysia-fake-news-law.html?

[Hoyt]

4. Problem occurs when you have a lot of ignorant people who are receptive to BS.

"Fake News" is quite obvious, especially in cases like Pope Francis endorsed trump, or Clinton sold weapons to jihadists. Heck, there were people who believe the Clintons were running a sex trade out of a pizza parlor. And, there were some ugly lies during the primaries.

Don't think one can prevent or outlaw fake news in politics -- swiftboating got Kerry in 2004. So we better concentrate on how to respond to these stories as soon as they occur.

[kimbutgar]

5. I remember seeing phoney stories that Hillary was going to be arrested anyday

And her health was fragile and she was dying.