Orig. title: Die Jugend in der Infodemie. Eine repräsentative Befragung zum Umgang junger Menschen in Deutschland mit Falschnachrichten während der Coronakrise
Engl. transl.: Youth in the infodemic. A representative survey on how young people in Germany dealt with fake news during the Covid-19 Crisis
Keywords
Infodemic
Fake News
Adolescents
Publication details
| Year: | 2020 |
| Issued: | 2020 |
| Language: | German |
| Editors: | Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland |
| Authors: | Börsch-Supan J.; Thies L. |
| Type: | Report and working paper |
| Sample: | 2,064 adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 24 The population for the survey consisted of German-speaking young people between the ages of 14 and 24 in private households in Germany who use the internet. The sample was drawn as a quota sample. The quotas were created in such a way that the sample corresponds to the structure of the population in the essential characteristics. |
Abstract
"The aim of the survey was to better understand how young people deal with fake news related to the Covid-19 crisis. The results make the extent of the infodemic clear once again: three quarters of 14- to 24-year-olds are are confronted with fake news every week, many of them even several times a day.
Although most are confident in dealing with fake news, the majority (77 percent) of young people with a formally low level of education find it particularly difficult to distinguish between credible and untrustworthy information in connection with the pandemic. And it is this group that receives the least orientation in school on how to deal with fake news." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 2; translated by the coder)
Outcome
- "More and more young people in Germany are regularly confronted with fake news, but are slowly becoming more confident in recognizing them. However, a third still find it difficult." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 4; translated by the coder)
- "Fake news increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Young people with a formally low level of education in particular find it difficult to distinguish credible from untrustworthy information." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 6; translated by the coder)
- "Adolescents associate disinformation not only with online content but also with traditional media and specific political actors. In their view, fake news worsens the situation during the pandemic and endangers democracy." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 8; translated by the coder)
- "They deal consciously with information about news events online and actively counter fake news. However, reports on the platforms usually come to nothing." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 10; translated by the coder)
- "Young people want schools to help them deal with fake news. However, the topic is still often not addressed there." (Börsch-Supan & Thies, 2020, p. 12; translated by the coder)