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Exploring Fake News Sharing among Malaysian University Students: Role of Uses and Gratification Theory

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Fake news, portrayed as accurate but actually false or misleading, spreads through fabricated stories, altered media, and automated programs. This study explores the dissemination of fake news among Malaysian university students using the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT). Data from 111 participants reveal how personal motivations, as identified by UGT, influence the spread of misinformation. The study highlights the link between individual motivations and fake news propagation by understanding students' media consumption reasons. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers and educators to develop strategies that combat misinformation and improve media literacy in academic settings.

Source: Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal

DOI: 10.21834/e-bpj.v10isi26.6788

Authors: Wan Hashridz Rizal Wan Abu Bakar, Abdul Rauf Ridzuan, Mohd Sufiean Hassan, Fahmi Zaidi Abd Razak

Institutions: Universiti Teknologi MARA System, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Al-Quran Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah Pahang

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409897512

FWCI: 1.773

Cites: 22

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10