Abstract:

In the last decade, social media has started to become the most popular means of sharing and obtaining news due to its practicality, easy access, rapid spread and low cost. Social media is also a medium that facilitates the spread of fake news. This wide spread of information not only disrupts the structure of the news ecosystem, but also negatively affects the society. Now people have difficulties in distinguishing between what is wrong and what is right. In this field study, which was conducted on a sample of 386 university students, the effects of social media usage motivations on fake news sharing were examined. As a result of the research, first of all, the participants spent three hours a day in front of social media; It was determined that they turned to these tools in line with their motivations for altruism, sharing information, seeking information, socialization, and spending time in entertainment. While the motivations of sharing information, seeking information and spending time have a positive and significant effect on news sharing in social media; It has been revealed that altruism and socialization motivation negatively affects fake news sharing. Contrary to expectations, no significant effect of entertainment motivation on fake news sharing was detected.

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