Are Algorithms Enough? Analyzing Fake News Solutions Designed by Students

We examine the fake news problem, emphasizing user-led solutions. Students were assigned a task to design a technology-based solution to combat online misinformation defined as fake news. Eighteen teams participated, a total of 89 students. Analysis reveals that 38.9% of teams devised algorithm-focused solutions, 27.8% proposed human-focused solutions, while 33.3% designed solutions that incorporated both algorithmic and human-centered approaches to addressing the misinformation problem. We identified a fundamental assumption regarding the effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence and algorithms, highlighting technological sophistication. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on combating fake news and provide directions for future research and development of effective technological interventions by considering human factors.