A PERCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MEDIA FAKE NEWS AMONGST FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OTUOKE STUDENTS

The purpose of this study is to conduct a perceptual analysis of social media fake news among Federal University Otuoke Students. The objectives of the study is to examine the perception of students at Federal University Otuoke regarding the prevalence of fake news on social media, to identify the sources of fake news that students frequently encounter, to explore the impact of fake news on students' academic and social lives and to suggest potential strategies to combat the proliferation of fake news among students of Federal University Otuoke. The study critically reviewed that social media fake news compel students to exercise caution on news emanating from social media outlets. It equally revealed that students conceive social media fake news as harmful to their mental health, social media fake news expose students to scammers, it makes them too loose concentration on their studies, results in psychological and emotional trauma in students, that social media fake news contribute to student's poor academic performance. The study also showed that the most conspicuous sources of social media Fake news students encounter are milled around by content creators, social media marketers and bloggers. The study is hinged on the Selectivity Factor theory cum the Use and Media gratification theory. The research methodology spans across descriptive survey research design, data was analyzed via the usage of descriptive statistics through simple percentage. Mixed method of data collection was employed. The study recommends among other things that Students of Federal University Otuoke should verify the credibility, veracity and truthfulness of news obtained from social Media so that they don't become gullible and naive recipients of fake news. Students should familiarize themselves with the existing methods of fake news deciphering and detection such as the use of AI, content based techniques and also checking various webpages to see the legibility of the information received. Students should come to the realization of the fact that fake news peddlers or purveyors are all over the internet. Thus they should desist following certain social media outlets especially those that are not useful to their intellectual development