Social Media User Satisfaction and the Spread of Fake News: Insightful Perspectives of Users

Abstract

In the modern era, social media is an effective medium for the dissemination of information and communication. As such, social media increases the avenues of information among users and may influences their behaviour. However, social media as a communication medium is often misused by certain groups of people, especially for sharing unauthorised information and fake news. This study will examine the extent of social network usage among Malaysians by exploring the relationship between user satisfaction and the spread of fake news. This research presents the results of a survey conducted with 379 respondents who were at least 18 years old and had utilized internet platforms to search for information. Additionally, this study used Partial Least Squares (PLS) data analysis to identify how the five distinct variables (pass time, entertainment, socialisation, information sharing and information seeking) impacted the spread of false information. The study found a direct relationship between user satisfaction and fake news dissemination, where amusement and the pursuit of knowledge were the key motivators. Furthermore, we found that other motivations for social media usage, were social interactions, passing time and information sharing, had less significant relationship with the dissemination of misinformation.