ADDRESSING BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO SHARING FAKE NEWS

Abstract

A recent study showed that in the three months before the 2016 US Presidential election, 156 misleading news stories got just under 38 million shares on Facebook (Allcott & Gentzkow, 2017).To address this problem, we propose an intervention, the Pro-Truth Pledge (PTP), which draws on behavioral science research about what causes us to lie and how to prevent such deception, as well as successful strategies in promoting pro-social behaviors from the environmental movement.In taking the pledge, at ProTruthPledge.org, signees agree to abide by twelve behaviors: * Verify: Fact-check information to confirm it is true before accepting and sharing it. * Balance: Share the whole truth, even if some aspects do not support my opinion. * Cite: Share my sources so that others can verify my information. * Clarify: Distinguish between my opinion and the facts. * Acknowledge: Acknowledge when others share true information, even when we disagree otherwise * Reevaluate: Reevaluate if my information is challenged, retract it if I cannot verify it. * Defend: Defend others when they come under attack for sharing true information, even when we disagree otherwise. * Align: Align my opinions and my actions with true information. * Fix: Ask people to retract information that reliable sources have disproved even if they are my allies. * Educate: Compassionately inform those around me to stop using unreliable sources even if these sources support my opinion. * Defer: Recognize the opinions of experts as more likely to be accurate when the facts are disputed. * Celebrate: Celebrate those who retract incorrect statements and update their beliefs toward the truth.Regarding its effectiveness in behavior change, case study evidence from both private citizens and public figures show a self-reported impact on behavior and instances of external observed changes in behavior.