LINCOLN, Neb. -- As Nebraskans look for the latest factual information in the COVID-19 crisis, a new study shows that it's getting harder to tell what's real -- and what isn't -- on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.


Researchers at the University of Washington used a Google Chrome extension to add fake news posts to trusted friends' news feeds.

Report co-author Christine Geeng says a surprising number of people in the study couldn't spot the lies.

"While they said they're very good at being skeptical and spotting fake news, we found out some of them did end up falling for some of the misinformation, which really goes to show that anyone can be susceptible for misinformation, because it's just so hard to spot," she states.

Geeng says one way to avoid getting duped is to investigate the source, because many posts from "trusted" second cousins or old high school friends don't originate from credible news sources.

For the latest on COVID-19 developments, Nebraskans can also turn to the state's Department of Health and Human Services online at dhhs.ne.gov.

Previous research on how people interact with misinformation asked respondents to review posts from a researcher-created account, not from friends and others they're already following.

Geeng says she's hopeful that these new findings will help news consumers and programmers alike in an age when information comes at super-fast speeds, in short and digestible formats.

"I'm hoping that by doing this research, we can figure out ways to potentially better design social media sites, or at least design things that can help people make better decisions about whether the stuff they're reading is true or not," she states.

Geeng adds that people in the study did notice when a post didn't match their friends' usual content -- and while some became skeptical and investigated further, many just ignored it.

Geeng says in future research, she's interested in exploring whether social media users remember something about content they scroll past, but forget that it was from an ad they skipped over.


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Americans continue to report low trust in mainstream media, with many younger than 30 saying they trust information from social media nearly as much as from national news outlets.

As we reach the end of National News Literacy Week, Randy Essex, former executive editor of the Omaha World Herald and now editor at the Detroit Free Press, offered some explanations for this declining trust, starting with the role he feels conservative radio and television have played for a generation.

"The rise of this clearly partisan media is a business model, and part of that model is to sow distrust of established sources of information, whether that be national media or the government," he said. "The statement, essentially, is 'Believe us, not them, we're on your side.'"

Essex said other factors include the consolidation in the radio industry, closing of hundreds of local newspapers and the pervasiveness of social media. He said he believes even COVID contributed, with fear making people more susceptible to conspiracy theories. He called rebuilding public trust in mainstream news "a tremendous uphill battle," and maintained that transparency and ethics are paramount.

Essex added that editors have an important role to play.

"Top editors need to communicate with the public, and explain the work that we're doing and counter unfounded criticism of it," he said. "When we make mistakes, we have to be transparent about that, too. And we need to connect in person and be in the community when we can, because human beings are much more civil in person than they are on the internet."

Essex said the public has some responsibility, too, including checking sources and being skeptical.

"And the problem is that for a generation," he said, "a lot of people have been conditioned to not believe established organizations that are doing real news."

Essex stressed that, ultimately, journalists show the public their worth through their work.

"Locally, the city council is the end of the debate," he said. "The real debate is happening out in the community, or behind closed doors in board rooms, and it's our job to find that real issue, not to just cover what's happening on the surface. And that's where our value is."

As National News Literacy Week comes to an end, one Nevada journalism professor says media professionals need to make building trust with their audiences a top priority.

Some might say that's easier said than done. According to the News Literacy Project, only 26% of Americans say they trust most news, most of the time.

Professor Paromita Pain, assistant professor of global media at the University of Nevada Reno's Reynolds School of Journalism, said she teaches her journalism students to foster those relationships by giving audiences an idea of how stories are curated. She said she believes it's a news outlet's responsibility to establish a dialogue that promotes transparency among readers, viewers or listeners.

"How about putting a line in the story that also tells the audience that not only was the source vetted, but how exactly was that vetting done," she said.

Pain said that can be achieved by explaining how reporters meet their sources and why they choose to interview one person over another. The News Literacy Project has four steps anyone can take to help increase their overall news savvy, and other resources online at newslit.org.

Pain said reporters are products of the times and cultures they come from, and that everyone has some biases, even as they try hard to overcome them. She encouraged people to get their news from a variety of sources, especially on controversial issues. She said this more holistic approach to news is key, and that the responsibility falls on everyone.

"Finding multiple sources, making sure that we do our own research when it comes to topics, especially topics that sound very partisan, or which may sound terribly biased from the get-go," she said.

She added that it's also important for journalists to listen to audience feedback and constructive critiques, so that everyone feels heard and seen. And in a world where there are fewer news outlets all the time, her advice for current and future journalists is to "stay resilient."


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Today is the start of National News Literacy Week, and according to a Minnesota expert, trust in the media remains low. But there are still plenty of reliable sources, and consumers need to know what to follow and what to avoid.

A recent Gallup poll reported than only 30% of Americans have "a great deal" of trust and confidence in the media.

Kay Beckermann, a journalism professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead, said there is concern that many people get most of their news from social media because of trust issues. She said that does not help the problem.

"And so, they might be looking at something that is not a trustworthy news source," Beckermann said. "And I think we need to be focusing on, really, helping people understand what is a legitimate news source."

She added a key way to determine if a news organization is trustworthy is by checking if the reporting often includes multiple perspectives and is not one-sided. Being able to back up a claim posted on social media with evidence is another tool. The website NewsLit.org offers tips on how to spot misinformation and other red flags.

Consumers often cite national outlets when voicing their distrust of the news media. Regionally, Beckermann said outlets around Minnesota often do a good job in holding themselves accountable. She strongly encourages readers, viewers and listeners to follow the work of local reporters.

"The Wall Street Journal is not going to tell me what is happening to me in downtown Moorhead, Minnesota, for example," she said. "But I can look at a local newspaper; I can find out what local businesses are doing. We can talk about local politics, we can talk about local events, things we need to be aware of."

As for news coverage of politics, Beckermann said the classified-documents issue surrounding the White House is a good accountability test. She said with both a Democrat and a Republican being swept up in the events, news organizations that treat the matter with the same level of objectivity, while also being able to lay out any differences, should be viewed as reliable. Beckermann added consumers need to recognize when a candidate they support is worthy of unflattering coverage.