Is Social Media Changing the Awareness of Individuals?

Abstract

. Social media has provided a platform for fake news, which most individuals distribute without realizing that it is fake news. Fake news distribution hinges on individuals’ awareness of information. The current study aimed to examine information awareness and assimilation among users of social media. Based on the collective action theory, the study conducted an online survey comprising Facebook and Instagram users and analysed 143 datasets. The results implied that social media is responsible for influencing the awareness of individuals, which in turn allows for fake news to be easily distributed.