Final answer:
Hoaxes are more challenging to perpetrate now due to the availability of multiple information sources that allow for fact-checking and critical evaluation of media content.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hoaxes are harder to pull off today compared to the past primarily because people have access to other sources of information to check facts. The abundance of information sources has made it more challenging to navigate the media landscape, but it also enables individuals to verify information and be more discerning of the credibility of different outlets. With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated, leading to an increase in awareness and initiatives to empower individuals to assess the accuracy of what they encounter online.
Media consumption patterns have evolved significantly with the invention of cable and the internet. Consumers are now inundated with information, which can lead to skepticism and fatigue regarding traditional media and politics. However, this saturation also opens the door to fact-checking and crowd-sourced evaluations of content credibility.
The transformation from traditional newspapers to fractured news sources online has tailored information consumption to individual preferences, leading to echo chambers and selective exposure. But an informed public, aware of how to critically evaluate information, can guard against the spread of hoaxes and misinformation by seeking diverse perspectives and verifying facts from multiple credible sources.