“I don't think it's true”: analysis of frequent words and phrases in arguments about fake news.

Abstract

Social networks are one of the most widely used technologies in the world within which news without support or validation, called false news, has proliferated. A mixed study with a descriptive scope was carried out on 291 students of different academic levels in different parts of Mexico in order to analyze the arguments obtained by asking them about the credibility of five news items about COVID-19. The frequencies of words and phrases used are presented, as well as a comparison according to the level of credibility that the participants expressed. It was found that the participants with a higher academic level express less credibility to these news and that their arguments reflect the degree of credibility expressed.