It Is Not Your Fault You Were Deceived: The Truth About the 'Emotional Weapons' Used by Fakes

How many times did you open social media on your smartphone today?

News, health information, expert commentary... Every time you scroll through your screen, countless "things that look like facts" flow in. But have you ever stopped to think about how much of that is "true" and how much is "false"?

In my medical practice, I have seen many patients who refused necessary treatment simply because they believed misinformation. Every time it happens, I think: "It is not your fault. The information is just too clever."

Today, I would like to talk about the mechanics of fake news from a psychological perspective, and share some small habits to help you stay grounded and not get swayed.

Fake news targets your emotions

First, there is one thing I want you to know.

Fake news is not something that someone accidentally created and spread. It is an 'emotional weapon' intentionally designed after thoroughly researching human psychology. that is what it is.

Anger, fear, disgust, surprise. Try to recall a post you saw on social media today that made you stop scrolling. There must have been a moment when your heart was strongly shaken.

That 'strong emotion' is the trap that fake news sets first.

Truth is actually very plain. Scientific facts tend to be complex and nuanced, such as "under certain conditions, this trend is observed." Even when you read a paper, it is often unclear, leaving you wondering, "So what is the bottom line?" That is its true nature.

However, lies are different. "This food is absolutely dangerous!" "The shocking truth the government is hiding!" "A fact you'll regret not knowing for the rest of your life!"—they are delivered like movie trailers as simple, exciting, and memorable "stories."

Our brains are wired to prefer simple stories over complex truths. This is not a weakness, but a survival habit that humans have acquired over a long period of time. That is precisely why we are easily taken advantage of.

The reality that the number '6 times' forces us to face

Here is some data I would like you to remember.

A research team at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) analyzed the spread of information on Twitter on a large scale, and a shocking fact was revealed. It is that lies spread six times faster than the truth.

Six times. This is a gap so large that it is now difficult for the truth to catch up with lies.

Why does this happen? The answer lies in "novelty", or in other words, freshness.

Since ancient times, humans have survived by reacting sensitively to new information. "There is a new predator in that forest," "That fruit is poisonous." Individuals who caught new information quickly were the ones who survived.

However, in the modern age, this instinct backfires. "Surprising lies" created without the constraints of reality appear overwhelmingly more "new" and "exciting" than plain truths. And we reflexively jump on them.

This is not a matter of your judgment, but a property built into the very design of the brain.

The brain mistakes 'information seen many times' for 'the truth'

There is another powerful psychological mechanism that fake news exploits.

It is called the "illusion of truth", also known as the "repetition effect". Simply put, it is a phenomenon where the brain arbitrarily judges information as "familiar, therefore true" because it sees the same information repeatedly.

Imagine a situation where posts making similar claims appear on your timeline every single day.

What you were initially skeptical about, wondering "Is this true?", starts to feel like "If everyone is saying it, maybe it is true" after seeing it three, five, or ten times. This is by no means a sign that your judgment has dulled. It is just your brain's normal functioning making you feel that way.

That is precisely why those who want to spread fake news adopt a strategy of "infinitely repeating" the same short phrases on social media. "It's fraud," "It's being covered up," "Know the truth." There is zero scientific basis or detailed explanation. Just pure assertion and repetition.

This does not look this way by accident; it is a "design" based on a complete understanding of the brain's quirks.

Evolving tactics: impersonation, graphs, and deepfakes

Technical tactics are also becoming more sophisticated every year. Let me introduce three methods that I personally find particularly "troublesome."

The first is "impersonation."

"NASA announcement," "WHO recommended," "According to Professor X at Y University"—this is a method of faking credibility by using the names of authoritative organizations or experts without permission. Unfortunately, it is not rare for the names and titles of medical professionals like us to be used without our consent.

The second is the "misuse of graphs."

For some reason, graphs look "objective and scientific," don't they? But if you cut off the middle of the Y-axis to exaggerate changes or cherry-pick convenient data, you can make any claim look plausible. They say numbers don't lie, but humans are good at using numbers to lie.

The third is "deepfakes."

Using generative AI, you can create videos that look exactly like real people saying things they never actually said. It has reached a level where even an amateur cannot distinguish it from the real thing. The era of "it's true because I saw it with my own eyes" may be coming to an end.

Why are so many lies being created?

Having read this far, you might have thought: "In the first place, why and who is mass-producing these lies?"

There are two main reasons.

One is money.

With social media monetization programs, we have entered an era where gathering attention (impressions) directly translates into money. This is called the "attention economy." Whether something is true or not no longer matters. As long as it grabs people's attention, it generates revenue. That is why "nonsense" that can quickly attract attention is mass-produced like a commodity.

Another factor is political motivation.

Fake news gradually advances social division by reinforcing specific positions or portraying opposing camps as "absolute evil." It divides us into "enemies" and "allies," making calm dialogue impossible. There are certainly people who desire this.

I believe that just understanding this structure will change your perspective on the information that flows your way.

Three Small Habits to Become Someone Who Isn't Easily Swayed

Having read this far, you might be thinking, "So, what exactly should we do?"

It's okay. You don't need to do anything difficult. I will share three habits that I recommend to my patients and their families, which anyone can start today.

The first is to take a breath when your emotions are stirred. Anger, fear, or intense surprise. When these emotions well up, the likelihood that the post is fake increases dramatically. Try stopping your finger from hitting "like" or "share" for just three seconds. Taking just one deep breath allows your brain to regain its composure to a surprising degree.

The second is to check the "source" of the information. When you see phrases like "according to so-and-so," make it a habit to look for the original information (primary source). Did that organization really announce it? Did that expert really say it? With just that one extra step, many hoaxes reveal their true colors.

The third is to compare with multiple sources. Do not judge based on a single article; compare it with opinions from multiple reliable media outlets and experts. This is the absolute fundamental of critical thinking. There is no such thing as a perfect source of information. That is precisely why having multiple perspectives acts as a shield to protect yourself.

I Have No Intention of Blaming You for Being Deceived

Finally, please let me say this one thing.

If you have believed fake news in the past, it is not your fault. It does not mean you lacked intelligence or were inattentive.

Fake news is a "trap" created after thoroughly researching the mechanisms of the human brain. In fact, it could be said that people who are emotionally rich and have the capacity to trust others are more easily caught up in it. That is nothing to be ashamed of; it is a reflection of your kindness.

Research even shows data that "the smarter a person is, the more easily they are deceived outside their area of expertise". No one is an exception.

What matters is not the past, but what you do from here on out. Having read this article today, you are no longer the person you were yesterday. "Take a breath when information stirs your emotions." Just by remembering that one simple thing, your "discerning eye" will definitely change.

In Conclusion

To survive in an era overflowing with information, I will summarize what I wanted to convey today.

First, fake news is intentionally designed to target your "emotions." Second, lies spread six times faster than the truth and are imprinted on the brain as "the truth" through repetition. And third, the methods to protect yourself from this are "take a breath when emotions are stirred," "check the source," and "compare with multiple sources"—these three are enough.

No one possesses perfect information literacy. Even I am easily deceived outside of my medical expertise. And that is fine. What is important is not to avoid being deceived, but to cultivate a "calm eye" that can realize when you might have been deceived.

You have the power to see for yourself. From today, please try to get into the habit of pausing for just a moment. That alone will surely start to change the landscape of the information surrounding you.

Thank you very much for staying with me until the end. I hope today's article serves as a catalyst for you to think about your next steps from tomorrow onwards.

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