Scientists examine how fake news shapes public reception toward media platforms as they analyze the obstacles that journalists face when producing factual reports. The research studies fake news operations through surveys in addition to media professional interviews and fake news article content analysis to understand its procedures along with public consequences and control methods. The study reveals social media recommendations as the main source that drives fake news distribution which creates growing partisan beliefs and mistrust between both mass and online news outlets. The emotional intensity in fake news reports results in rapid dissemination because of these strong responses, particularly when they cause anger. Fact-checking websites haven't significantly improved public ability to spot fake news, as 68% of people still remain confused. The paper underlines media monitoring as the foundation for addressing fake news through increased media literacy education as well as transparent journalistic practices and rigorous fact-checking systems.

This study explores public trust in Grok, an AI fact-checking tool on X (Twitter), during the 2025 Pakistan-India war. Using Media Dependency Theory, it examines how Grok shaped trust, fact-checking behavior, and perceptions of journalistic authority. A mixed-methods survey of 380 respondents measured trust, dependency, and views on AI’s role in crisis reporting. Findings show moderately high trust in Grok, moderate trust in journalists, and a perception that Grok was more reliable during the conflict. However, most participants favored human-AI collaboration over replacing reporters. Dependency on Grok was moderate and positively linked to trust. While respondents feared misinformation, they still valued AI for verification. Overall, the study suggests AI will not replace journalism but is becoming a parallel authority, influencing how audiences navigate uncertainty in conflict situations.