Can We Stop the Spread of Fake News? The Responsibilities and Challenges of Mass Media

Fake news refers to news created with false information, and there are concerns about its dissemination online, particularly its spread on social media. It is said that fake news may have influenced the UK's exit from the EU and Mr. Trump's presidential election victory.

The WELQ scandal, which surfaced in 2016 and led to the site's closure, highlighted fundamental issues: the lack of supervision by medical experts and the substantial unauthorized reproduction of articles (copyright issues). Traditionally, aggregation sites and curation sites might have been the archetype of "fake news." However, looking at the landscape in 2017, it seems we cannot overlook how criticism and critiques of mass media reports, mixing truth and falsehood, have become a breeding ground for "fake news." This has led to claims like "mass media itself is the source of fake news" circulating even on major sites that ordinary people regularly visit.

Human psychology is curious. While one might expect that suspicion ("Is there something fishy about XX?") would drive people to seek out and verify various information to reach the truth, it seems that when they encounter a "comfortable answer" that satisfies their doubts, their curiosity is satisfied right there.

Given this situation, while nothing is ever purely black and white, it seems television and mass media are now more than ever in need of clear, expert explanations and testimonies that can dispel viewers' (consumers') doubts. Taking this further, it may mean we are facing a time to reexamine the existence and role of the "commentator" – a figure that emerged in program formats in the 1980s and became commonplace – or, by extension, to change the typical structure of so-called talk shows and information programs.

Amidst shifting TV advertising metrics and increasingly blurred boundaries between television and the internet, the numerous measures being implemented are undoubtedly strategic moves to determine "what comes next." Video Research Ltd. recognizes the need to advance, more than ever in 2018, the preparation of corresponding data and the provision of systems and services.

After the tumultuous Year of the Monkey and Rooster, 2018 is the Year of the Dog. We sincerely hope that for all of you, and for our company as well, the groundwork we have laid will yield some fruit, making this a year of smiles.

We look forward to your continued support this year.

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This article is edited based on Video Research Ltd.'s VR Digest published in December 2017.