Why Do So Many Indians Fall for Fake News?

And What Can Be Done About It?

May 26, 2025

A global study has tried to answer this question by looking closely at how people across four countries—India, France, the U.K. and the U.S.—react to news, especially in the age of social media, looking at people’s emotional reactions, thinking patterns and how their background affects the way they process information. What the study found about India is worrying—but it’s reassuring that it also points to clear solutions.

The study, conducted by Ipsos, a France-based global market research and public opinion company,  focused on “media truth discernment,” or a person’s ability to tell real news from fake news. One of its biggest findings is that Indians tend to believe news headlines too easily.

Among the four countries, Indian participants showed the strongest truth bias. That means, when shown a range of headlines—some real, some fake—they were more likely to assume that the headline was true, regardless of its actual content. This truth bias makes Indians especially vulnerable to falling for misinformation. In contrast, people in France and the U.K. were more sceptical and cautious in judging headlines.

What’s even more concerning is that Indian participants scored the lowest on actual truth discernment – they “struggled” more than others to correctly identify whether a piece of news was true or false.

So why is this happening? The study points to a few reasons.

One major factor is emotional reaction, the study says. Indians, like people in other countries, tend to trust headlines that make them feel good. If a headline gives a positive feeling—say, pride, hope or agreement with one’s views—it is more likely to be believed. This is what we call confirmation bias.

On the other hand, negative emotions like fear or anger can actually push people to question what they’re reading. In India, where news often taps into emotion—be it national pride, religious identity or economic aspiration—this tendency to trust what “feels right” plays a big role in spreading fake news.

Another issue is the nature of information consumption in India.

The digital environment is often dominated by WhatsApp forwards, Facebook posts and news links sent through private messaging apps. The study found that the use of such encrypted platforms was linked to poorer performance in identifying fake news in some countries, including India. These apps, used mostly in closed circles, create echo chambers where misinformation can circulate unchecked because people trust the sender, not the source.

Then there’s the problem of not thinking critically enough.

The study tested whether people paused to think about the headlines they were reading. Those who took a moment to analyse, question or verify were far better at spotting fake news. But many did not—and those relying on quick, gut reactions were more likely to get it wrong.

Socio-economic background also matters, according to the study.

In India, people with higher socio-economic status—those with better education and access to quality information—were better at identifying fake news. After all, if someone has been trained to ask questions, cross-check facts and think analytically, they are more equipped to separate truth from falsehood. Unfortunately, large sections of the Indian population, especially in rural or less-privileged areas, do not have that exposure. That puts them at a disadvantage in the digital information world, the study notes.

Interestingly, while women outperformed men in truth discernment in countries like France, the U.K. and the U.S., no such gender difference was found in India.

So, what can Indians do to guard against fake news?

The first step is to build media literacy, the study suggests. This means learning to evaluate what’s being read. Who is saying this? Where did this come from? Is this verified? These basic questions can make a big difference.

Second, people need to become more aware of their emotional reactions. If a headline makes you feel strongly—especially if it confirms something you already believe—that’s exactly when you should pause. That emotional rush might be clouding your judgement.

Third, educational institutions and civil society groups need to do more to promote critical thinking. This is a skill that can be taught. In fact, one programme in France showed that even middle-school children could learn to pause and evaluate information more carefully if given the right training.

Fourth, the digital platforms that dominate India’s information space must take responsibility. If apps like WhatsApp and Facebook are the main places where people encounter news, these platforms should introduce stronger checks—like verified labels or clearer signals about what’s been fact-checked.

Finally, it is important to understand that more news is not always better. The study found that just consuming large amounts of information didn’t make people better at spotting fake news. What matters is “how” that information is processed.

However, it should not be assumed that Indians fall for fake news because they are less intelligent or more gullible. The reasons lie in a mix of emotional bias, limited media literacy, overreliance on peer-shared content and a default tendency to believe headlines. These are patterns that can—and should—change.

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