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This kind of fake news may be more widespread in the age of the internet but it’s worth remembering that as long as audiences prefer reading fact-checked articles, news organizations can still have a powerful influence on public opinion.

The bottom line is that people are already extremely skeptical of what they read online, said MIT social psychologist Sherry Turkle, a frequent critic of the amplification tactics.

“If you look at social media posts, people see through it,” Turkle said. “They don’t seem to buy into the hype.”

Turkle said the most important aspect of news is that it should cause us to reflect on our own beliefs and behavior. The spread of fake and hyperpartisan news makes it harder for people to get a true gauge of their own values, she said. “What a shock it would be if people started deciding that what they believed was what was true.”

Carol Tavris, a Rutgers University researcher and author of “The Bias Against Truth,” agrees. People “are prone to ask, ‘Are you really sure?'” she said. “One of the challenges is you don’t know if you’re really sure.”

She added, “People want proof.”

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