A report reveals a significant rise in fake news targeting Andy Burnham ahead of the Makerfield byelection, with misinformation jumping from 4% to 16% in local Facebook groups. This trend highlights the challenges of navigating politics in a social media landscape filled with false information.
Key points
Fake news targeting Andy Burnham has surged in Makerfield.
Misinformation in local Facebook groups rose from 4% to 16%.
The report analyzed over 1,800 posts across four local groups.
46% of Britons seek local news through social media.
Engagement-driven feeds can amplify misinformation.
Mentioned in this story
Andy BurnhamSocial Market FoundationMakerfield
Good morning. Andy Burnham seems to be on course to win the Makerfield byelection on Thursday. But, if he does win, it will be despite a huge increase in the amount of hostile, fake news about him circulating on local Facebook groups. This has been documented in a report out today by the Social Market Foundation thinktank that has important implications not just for Makerfield, but for how politics functions today in a social media environment awash with lies.
In its report, the SMF says:
double quotation markNearly 1 in 6 pieces of news shared in local Facebook groups during the campaign is false, with misinformation heavily targeting Labour and its candidate Andy Burnham, a new study has found.
The Social Market Foundation analysed over 1,800 posts across four local Facebook groups – representing different towns and settlements within the constituency with 66,000 members across them in total – and found that the share of news posts classified as misinformation jumped from 4% before the by-election was called to 16% during the campaign, a four-fold increase.
These findings come just days ahead of what has been billed as the most consequential by-election for a century. Nearly half of Britons (46%) now seek out local news through social media, second only to television and ahead of every other source. Over a third (34%) make use of local social media groups for this purpose – despite the fact these online sources do not come with fact-checking and editorial guidelines associated with the press …
The shift towards engagement driven rather than recency driven feeds can raise the prominence of misinformation. We can see the implication of this in Makerfield’s local Facebook groups. In one of them, 5 of the top 10 posts were misinformation. In another, 8 of the top 25 were misinformation. If people engaged with the post – whether agreeing or challenging them – it meant the misinformation would get boosted by the platform’s algorithm.
This chart from the report illustrates the extent of the problem.
Q&A
What percentage of news shared in Makerfield Facebook groups is false?
Nearly 1 in 6 pieces of news shared in local Facebook groups during the campaign is false, amounting to 16% of posts.
How much did misinformation increase in Makerfield Facebook groups during the byelection campaign?
Misinformation increased from 4% before the byelection was called to 16% during the campaign, a four-fold rise.
What implications does the rise of fake news have for the Makerfield byelection?
The rise of fake news has significant implications for the Makerfield byelection, affecting voter perception and engagement with the campaign.
How does social media engagement influence the spread of misinformation in politics?
Social media engagement can boost the visibility of misinformation, as posts that receive interactions are promoted by the platform's algorithm.
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Growth in misinformation on Makerfield Facebook groups during byelection
Growth in misinformation on Makerfield Facebook groups during byelection Photograph: SMF/Social Market Foundation
The SMF has published this study as part of a larger study into the impact social media is having on politics. Earlier this month it published a report saying fake news is three times as common in places without proper local journalism.
Today the Reuters Institute has published its annual study of global digital news and it says “for the first time, social media and video networks are, on average across the markets covered, more popular than both TV and owned news websites and apps as sources of news.”
Theo Bertram, director of the SMF, says his Makerfield report shows why Ofcom should be doing more to tackle fake news on platforms like Facebook.
double quotation markVoters in Makerfield are being exposed to harmful misinformation – and at an even greater intensity than we have seen in the rest of the UK. Too often local misinformation goes unchecked by big tech and unchallenged by national media. We need stronger enforcement from the companies and sustained investment in local news and reporting.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9am: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, takes part in an LBC phone-in.
9.30am: The Department for Work and Pensions releases figures about personal independence payment (Pip) claims.
10am:Wes Streeting, the former health secretary and Labour leadership hopeful, gives a speech on “progressive capitalism”.
Morning:Keir Starmer speaks to broadcasters in Evian, where he is attending the G7 summit. He will also do a “huddle” (off-camera briefing) with lobby correspondents covering the trip.
11.30am: Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
Noon: Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, gives a speech on proposals to restrict judges from intervening in deportation cases.
Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
Afternoon: Kemi Badenoch is campaigning in Aberdeen South, where there is a byelection on Thursday and the Tories are hoping to take the seat from the SNP.
Afternoon: John Healey, the former defence secretary, is expected to make a statement in the Commons about his resignation last week.
2pm: Angela Rayner, the former deputy PM, speaks at the Unison conference.
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