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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

Why are older adults more likely to pass along fake news?

A newsstand shows publications with fake headlines.
A misinformation newsstand is seen in midtown Manhattan on October 30, 2018, aiming to educate news consumers about the dangers of disinformation, or fake news, in the lead-up to the US midterm elections. The first-of-its-kind newsstand was set up by the Columbia Journalism Review.
Angela Weiss | AFP via Getty Images

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There’s a lot of disinformation swirling around the internet during this election year.

And it’s targeting adults.

Researchers at Princeton and New York universities found that Facebook users 65 and older posted seven times as many articles from fake news websites as did adults under 29.

Three experts joined Angela to explore why older adults find it difficult to tell what’s real and what’s not. And they discussed best practices to prevent spreading disinformation on social media.

Guests:

  • Liz Lightfoot is a professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work. She has recently given presentations on the growth of fake news and other scams.

  • Emily Vraga is a professor in the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Her research examines the impact misinformation on social media has on online interactions.

  • Susan Nash is a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on Longevity, working on a project to teach digital literacy to older adults, especially those who vote.

Use the audio player above to listen to the program.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.