THE DEVELOPMENT AND PILOT IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-LEVEL SOCIAL MEDIA FAKE NEWS MANAGEMENT MECHANISM TO REDUCE DECEPTION RISKS AMONG BABY BOOMER OLDER ADULTS IN NONG BUA LAMPHU PROVINCE

Abstract

Fake news on social media has become a significant issue affecting Baby Boomer older adults, particularly in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, where this population group is substantial and a community-level mechanism for managing fake news has not been clearly established. This study aimed to (1) develop a community-level social media fake news management mechanism for Baby Boomer older adults in Nong Bua Lamphu Province and (2) pilot and evaluate the developed mechanism. The study employed a research and development approach based on Media and Information Literacy, concepts and models of fake news management mechanisms, and the Social-Ecological Model. The research was conducted in two phases: mechanism development through three participatory forums, followed by a two-week pilot implementation involving 100 Baby Boomer older adults and 14 digital mentors in Na Kae Subdistrict, Na Wang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province. Quantitative data were analyzed using the median, interquartile range, Mann–Whitney U test, and paired-samples t-test, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The findings showed that the developed mechanism was an integrated multi-level mechanism comprising a five-item Self-Check tool, a channel for receiving and forwarding suspicious news through community LINE groups, digital mentors, a multi-layer fact-checking process, and a feedback system coupled with continuous community awareness activities. The mechanism and operational manuals met all evaluation criteria, with median values ranging from 4.38 to 4.75. No statistically significant differences were found between evaluations by partner agencies and local stakeholders (p > .05). The pilot results showed that the mean post-training score increased significantly from 8.27 to 11.31 (t(99) = 17.646, p < .001, Cohen’s d_z = 1.76). In addition, the average time required to receive and forward suspicious news decreased from 70.3 minutes in Week 1 to 6.3 minutes in Week 2. In Week 2, all cases met the predefined criteria for both processing time and procedural accuracy. These findings provide preliminary evidence that a community-level mechanism linking individuals, communities, and public agencies can support fake news management among Baby Boomer older adults.