Investigating Factors Influencing People to Engage in Weaponization of Fake News through Facebook

Abstract

Fake news has been used as a weapon right before Adam and Eve came into
the world, making it one of the most dangerous weapons in existence. It was
used in so many different ways since the analog era. Now that life has turned
into digital, the weaponization of fake news metamorphose to fit in and maintain
its status of being one of the great weapons to achieve specific goals. Among
the digital turning of life, Social media play a vast role, among which is
Facebook; Facebook is ranked the most rapidly growing social media platform
with a vast number of subscribers. Thus, this paper aims to identify the factors
that influence people to involve in the weaponization of fake news on social
media platforms using Facebook as a case study. It also statistically explores
the relationship between factors influencing people to be involved in fake news
weaponization on Facebook. Also, it suggests some recommendations on the
diminishing weaponization of fake news through Facebook. It seems this
research is an initial investigation into the weaponization of fake news on social
media with Facebook as a case study. The study analyses the possible factors
that influence people to fake news on Facebook, statistically exploring the
relationship between factors influencing people to be involved in the
weaponization of fake news on Facebook, and suggested some
recommendations on diminishing fake news's weaponization on Facebook. It
proposes a model of factors that influence the weaponization of fake news on
Facebook social media. The model was analyzed using empirical or rather
statistical analysis. The data was collected in two different questionnaire survey
responses ways which were on one and online distribution. The survey was
conducted in July – August 2018, with a total of 207 responses. The result of
the proposed model analysis suggested that political Attitude, financial gains,
religious Violence, ethnic/tribal Conflict, and entertainment were the essential
factors that influence the weaponization of fake news on Facebook.
Theoretically, this study provides a fresh contribution in understanding fake
news and factors that influences its weaponization; and fills a gap in the
literature.