Combating Fake News Susceptibility among Social Media Users in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Background: The proliferation of social media has revolutionised the way people access and share information. This has also led to the spread of fake news, which has become a major concern globally, including Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Ebonyi State, with its high level of social media penetration and limited access to traditional news sources, is particularly vulnerable to the spread of fake news.Despite the gravity of the problem, there is a dearth of research on fake news susceptibility among social media users in Ebonyi State. Objectives: To investigate the factors that contribute to fake news susceptibility among social media users in Ebonyi State, and explore strategies for combating the spread of fake news in this context. Method: The study adopted descriptive survey research design. It was anchored on the agenda setting theory. Questionnaire served as instrument for data collection. A total of 398 internet users in Ebonyi State participated in the study. They were selected through multistage sampling technique. The age range of respondents was 18-50 years. Data was collected through an online survey, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data Result: The findings show high Internet penetration in the area. There was alsohigh level of social media consumption, with low online media literacy; this has made residents of the area susceptible to fake news. Conclusion:The conclusion of this study is that residents of Ebonyi State Nigeria are susceptible to fake news due to low online media literacy. Unique Contribution: This study has offered new insights into the complex dynamics of fake news dissemination and consumption in Ebonyi State, and informs the development of effective strategies for mitigating the negative impacts offake news.Hopefully, the new insight will benefit social media users and policy makers. Key Recommendation: There is need forconcerted efforts at increasing online media literacy among residents of the area.Efforts at promoting the culture of critical thinking, skepticism and fact-based decision-making, as well as technological solutions are germane stemming the tide of fake news Ebonyi state, Nigeria.