YOUNG ADULTS' ABILITY TO DETECT FAKE NEWS AND THEIR NEW MEDIA LITERACY LEVEL IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

In the wake of the current scenario of the Covid-19 pandemic, the phenomenon has attracted worldwide attention to the extent that countries are not only trying to battle the onslaught of the pandemic but also the spread of fake news. This research examines the ability of young adults in Malaysia to spot fake news and how do they counter its spread. This study also analyses the level of new media literacy among young adults to process fake news on social media. A quantitative data collection method using questionnaires was used to collect data from 450 young adults. Results showed that despite being confident of being able to distinguish fake news from real news, young adults have difficulties to differentiate between verifiable news and fake news. Respondents are also proactive in combatting the spread of fake news, where a large percentage would re-share the post to notify other users. Finally, study results also found that young adults have a moderate level of new media literacy. Overall, the study highlights the importance of initiating new media literacy education for all social media users, particularly with regards to fake news on social media. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.