Sample Solution

The intended audience of the essay “Why Do People Spread False Information Online?” is general readers. The essay attempts to explain why people spread false information online and offers insight on how to combat it. The author, Paulina Farobie, is a communications specialist who has a bachelors degree in philosophy and holds certificates from Harvard University and Stanford University (Gale Group, 2020). This makes her an effective writer as she has knowledge in both communication and philosophy which is required for this topic.

The essay was written in 2019 so it is fairly recent and up-to-date which adds to its credibility. In the article, Farobie argues that there are several psychological factors that contribute to people spreading false information online including confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance and bandwagon effect (Farobie 2019). She also provides practical tips for dealing with these issues such as avoiding responding impulsively in conversations or doing research before believing something (Farobie 2019).

Overall, the essay effectively explains why people spread false information online while providing credible evidence to support her claims. However, it could benefit from discussing what steps can be taken by companies or governments to reduce the prevalence of false information being shared online. Additionally, more details on how individuals can distinguish between real news sources versus fake ones would help further equip readers with proper tools when navigating the internet. Despite this minor limitation however, Farobie’s qualifications add significant credibility to her argument making it an overall effective piece.