The effect of message credibility on media use and perception of fake news among students

and to analyse the mediating effect of message credibility on media use and the perception of fake news. Fake news, in this context, is defined as deliberate misinformation spread by traditional or social media. The research utilizes the Media Dependency Theory in explaining the relationship between the audiences, media and the larger social system. The theoretical framework assumes that during times of conflict or uncertainty, in this case before the General Election 2018, audiences are likely to be more dependent on the media for information. It employs a quantitative research design using the survey method. 237 students from the Department of Communication, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) participated in the study. Findings show that there are significant relationships among media use, message credibility and fake news. The Media Dependency Theory is supported in this study