Who is afraid of fake news? Public attitudes on questions concerning the sources, distribution, and impact of fake news in Israel

This article analyzes public attitudes in Israel toward the definition, sources, distribution, and perceived impact of fake news. It draws on an online survey of 502 respondents aged 15 and above conducted during the March 2019 election campaign. The findings indicate that a majority adopts a definition aligned with academic consensus, viewing fake news as news-like content that presents false information with the intent to mislead for political or economic gain. Social networks are identified as the main channels of dissemination, while traditional media and personal networks are regarded as more trustworthy sources of information. A central result is the confirmation of the third-person effect: only 21% of respondents believe their own voting behavior could be influenced by fake news, whereas 49% assume that others are more susceptible. Attitudes toward fake news vary significantly across demographic factors such as education, age, sector, religiosity, political orientation, and income. The study underscores the continued relevance of professional journalism in verifying information and mitigating the effects of misinformation, while highlighting the interaction between global patterns and local sociocultural contexts.