The Let Down Effect

Abstract

Using experimental design, this study compares first-time voters’ gratifications and uses of a traditional News¹ format with the increasingly popular fake news format. The data here found that while indeed young people may have initially assessed a greater level of gratification associated with the fake news genre, the group was significantly “let down” after exposure to such a program. Though first-time voters understand that traditional surveillance-type information-seeking activities are better associated with traditional News, they were ambivalent about approaching and avoiding both traditional News and fake news genres.

Keywords

first-time voters fake news gratifications

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