Disinformation and Public Skepticism: Evaluating the Role of the Fake News on Trust in Pakistan Digital News Sphere

Aim of the Study: This paper discusses the question of what proportion of users recognize the fact that fake news has been distributed through digital media news services. It also examines the influence of exposure on the degree of their confidence in new sources of digital media, how they use them to check suspicious information, and how often they do it. Methodology: Based on a quantitative research design, a survey was administered to study a sample size of 420 respondents that cut across all areas in Pakistan to investigate three key areas; the awareness that users have about fake news, the correlation between exposure to fake news and the level of trust individuals have on digital news sources, and measures used by users to authenticate online content. Findings: The results indicate that the general awareness by participants about the existence and effects of disinformation is higher. Nevertheless, although respondents are often exposed to false news, the research did not reveal any statistically significant factors that the exposure to fake news directly reduces the trust in all digital news sources. Rather, verification of content in search engines, verification of original sources, and consultation with peers active among users. Conclusion: These actions are signifiers of an increase in digital responsibility of the users. The research claims that awareness and verification practices are the major determinants of upholding trust as even in high-exposure settings. These results also support the Media Dependency Theory that upon using digital sources to gather news, the users also become active in critical thinking to overall drive the influence of disinformation down.