Fighting without Hope: Public Perceptions of Methods Countering Fake News

The problem of fake news, which has been actively debated within the academic community in recent years, concerns not only researchers, but also the general public. This article, drawing on the materials of 119 interviews, examines Russians’ perceptions of accessible, acceptable and desirable measures to counter disinformation. The authors demonstrate that fake news is perceived by respondents as a phenomenon posing a social threat. However, the narratives clearly express skepticism about the possibility of completely eradicating fake news, which are regarded as an inherent feature of both the media environment and human nature. Questioning the possibility of finding a radical solution to the problem, respondents emphasize the significance of implementing a wide range of measures, aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of fake news, ranging from improving media literacy to legislative regulation or even censorship. Responsibility for combating fake news is seen as collective rather than individual, and as personalized rather than automated or algorithmic. The discussion of automated tools for combating fake news — such as verification algorithms and fact-checking websites — remains peripheral to the public discourse. According to the respondents, actors who should be involved in countering disinformation include the state, news consumers, journalists and media organizations, platforms and social networks, as well as special regulatory bodies. It is assumed that success can only be achieved through joint efforts. Moreover, respondents suggest that combating fake news must be systemic, emphasizing broader, long-term transformations rather than immediate corrective measures.