Algorithmic insight could combat clickbait and fake news

The media landscape is increasingly complicated. It is also plagued by sensationalism and a disconnection between media literacy and management practices. Many observers worry about the proliferation of “click bait” and “fake news.”

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Misleading reports rife with hyperbole exacerbate the problems faced by many people, and the distortion of serious issues creates a turbulent environment where the lines between information, disinformation, and misinformation are often blurred. Moreover, the lack of a clear distinction between the news and the public relations and marketing output of companies, especially in the age of influencers, is also of increasing concern.

Research published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology suggests that the only way to address these problems is to make a determined shift towards more rigorous news ethics, adapted to the modern media environment.

An Shi of Fujian Business University, in Fuzhou, Fujian, China, points out that the use of mathematical algorithms, specifically the Fredholm integral equation algorithm, could help us tackle many of the complex problems we have with the news media. Despite the often negative press about artificial intelligence (AI), ironically it is the use of machine learning, trained algorithms, and neural networks that might provide us with an escape route from the era of clickbait and fake news.

It is worth noting that the concept of “non-standard” press behavior has been with us for many years—a term introduced to address deviations from accepted professional standards in the media. Where these ethical shortcomings undermine societal responsibilities and negatively affect audiences, there is a serious problem.

This has been exacerbated by the move from traditional media channels, such as newspapers, radio, and television—to dynamic platforms like social media and online news outlets where the frontiers are wide open.

Empirical studies have demonstrated that the influence of unethical practices in the media extends way beyond public perception into financial markets and politics. The rapid dissemination of news can significantly impact stock prices and market stability and even affect the outcomes of elections and referenda, or at the least, color the public response to them.

The current work offers policy recommendations and governance schemes that could help market regulators and company managers ameliorate the negative impact of clickbait and fake news.