‘Killer of trust’: social media groups fuel misinformation in UK, report finds
The social media platform Facebook is one of several that MPs say must do more to combat fake news. Photograph: Joel Goodman View image in fullscreen The social media platform Facebook is one of several that MPs say must do more to combat fake news. Photograph: Joel Goodman ‘Killer of trust’: social media groups fuel misinformation in UK, report finds Investigation reveals more than 4.4 million people live in ‘news deserts’ that lack dedicated local reporting Local social media groups are fuelling misinformation in areas with no reliable sources of news, according to an investigation that reveals the scale of fake news flowing to vulnerable communities across Britain. Misinformation was nearly three times more common in areas with little or no recognised local journalism, according to a study of tens of thousands of posts seen by the Guardian. Immigration and Islamophobia were the most common topics of misinformation across Facebook and X . Spikes in misinformation were identified around local elections . Misinformation grew as a share of news posts by 56% in the run-up to polling day, compared with earlier in the year, from 8.2% of all news posts to 12.9%. The findings, by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) thinktank, are based on the analysis of more than 125,000 social media posts across local Facebook groups, X searches and Nextdoor communities. They led to immediate calls for action from senior MPs. An example of online misinformation spread online using news-style branding. Photograph: SMF MPs are concerned about the growing influence of unreliable online groups. With the decline and financial peril faced by local news outlets , inaccurate online forums are filling the void. One MP said the groups in his area were now read in far greater numbers than any local media outlet – and even some national media – yet were run by administrators with no legal experience or who openly supported a particular party. The authors of the SMF study described local online groups as “the silent killer of trust in Britain”. Their analysis uncovered faked local authority communications, AI-generated content and misleading claims of councils behaving corruptly. One post falsely suggested Birmingham council meetings had “stopped being conducted in English altogether”. Another pointed to a false expansion of London’s congestion charge. Another pointed to a plan to make the countryside “less white”. Misinformation was detected in three out of four local groups in Gorton and Denton, south-east Manchester, during the recent byelection . The seat was won by the Greens , with Reform UK in second place. False information was found relating to the Greens, Reform and Labour. Misleading posts included a fake quote attributed to the Reform candidate in Gorton and Denton, Matthew Goodwin, saying: “Mancunians are thick.” Another described the Black Lives Matter campaign as a “terrorist group”, above a picture of Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner taking the knee. View image in fu
Trust breakdown on social media? Absolutely! But lets focus on solutions: better algorithms, fact-checking, and digital literacy. We cant afford to let misinformation rule our conversations. #TechForGood #TrustFix
Social medias role in misinformation is real, but solutions like better algorithms, fact-checking, and digital literacy are crucial. Lets work together to rebuild trust in our digital ecosystems. #TechForGood
Trust breakdown on social media? Absolutely! But lets focus on solutions: better algorithms, fact-checking, and digital literacy. We cant afford to let misinformation rule our conversations. #TechForGood
Social media platforms must prioritize fact-checking and supporting local journalism to combat misinformation and foster trust. Its crucial for a healthy democracy. #MediaJustice #LocalNewsMatters
Absolutely! Platforms need to step up, but local journalism is our lifeline. Supporting them helps build the trust thats so crucial. #MediaJustice #LocalNewsMatters
Social media platforms like Facebook are the Killer of trust, but hey, lets not worry about that. Instead, lets invest in better algorithms, fact-checking, and digital literacy. Who needs real journalism when we have bots and echo chambers? #FakeNews #TechFail
Social media platforms have a responsibility to combat misinformation and support local journalism. Trust is the backbone of our democracy, and its up to them to ensure it remains strong. #MediaJustice #LocalNewsMatters
Trust in social media is a myth. These platforms profit from chaos, spreading lies and division. Regulation, not algorithms, is needed to hold them accountable. #FakeNews #DigitalEcosystems