Abstract:

Empirical research has repeatedly shown that an individual's confidence in false reports can be built when those reports confirm individuals own pre-existing attitudes, beliefs, or hypotheses. And when false reports confirm an individual's beliefs or attitudes, individual´s confidence in the false reports even grows. Therefore, according to experts, attitude, opinion or emotional homogeneity is proving to be the main driving force for the emergence, dissemination and even growth of any content in the media environment, disinformation content is no exception. Acceptance and credibility of disinformation on an individual and social level today appears to be a significant problem, especially in the area of social media, which are based on the idea of free and collective creation of content that is created by users. According to research, in the new media environment the most vulnerable group is young people, whose time on the Internet has increased most during Covid 19. The young generation uses social media for education or searching information and, increasingly, as a form of entertainment and relaxation. In all cases, a space opens up for young people to encounter even partially true, misleading or even false information. The paper presents the theoretical basis, which is followed by own research in the group of high school students (n = 40) and university students (n = 40).

The aim of the research is to evaluate the mechanisms responsible for students' confidence in disinformation in the social media environment. Research confirms that the most important mechanisms in both research groups to stimulate students' confidence in disinformation during Covid 19 are:
(1) homogeneity in knowledge;
(2) homogeneity in beliefs;
(3) homogeneity of identity;
(4) homogeneity of the narrative;
(5) social (collective) homogeneity.

Keywords:

Homogeneity, social media, disinformation, evaluation, Covid 19.