June 07, 2020

Following the 2016 US presidential election, many have expressed concern about the effects of fake news, circulated largely through social media.

What is social media?

A simple search on google says that they are websites and applications that enable “users” to create and share content or to participate in social networking.

Who is a user in the above definition?

A user can be any person like you and me or can be any business or non-business entity. Social media doesn’t mean “only” news agency. Further, the definition also says that it provides a platform to “create and share content”. So, this implies that a user holding an account on these social media can create and share content.

Can an individual like me or you can create news using these social media?

Yes! very much. We can share different types of information in the form we like. With software and mobile app, information can be prepared the way we like.

You mean “Any” information on it can be created, shared and it retains?

It doesn’t retain information or content which is against its terms. But to a much extent, Yes! It offers a primary forum to circulate the information. You must have heard about the “Christchurch mosque shootings“. The man behind this massacre used one of these social media and went live with his cruelty. By the time that very social media could remove his live cruelty video, it was too late to stop the live video from getting viral.

Why people create fake news?

Because of many reasons. But the prime intent behind its creation and circulation is to establish myth among people.

Some of the reasons for creating fake news are:

1. Money: People are paid money for spreading hoax or fake news over the internet.

2. Defamation: A group of users uses their social media account for defamation. Their purpose is to harm the reputation of a particular person, religion, political party, country and even unions.

3. Brainwashing: Yes! to a great extent, some user’s accounts on social media have in the past been proved in changing the sentiments of people’s beliefs. In fact, these social media platforms have been used to commit crimes or recruit young minds by brainwashing for misappropriate social activities.

How fake news reaches us?

The answer to it isn’t straight forward. Fake news is like viruses. It uses technology and human for it’s widespread.

New or surprising information is more likely to be shared. The speed of spreading fake news is much faster than real news. According to researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, fake news is more commonly re-tweeted by humans than bots. Some study reveals that :

1. The likelihood of re-tweeting false information is 70% more than the likelihood of re-tweeting truth.

2. The true stories take six times longer to reach 1,500 people.

3. True stories were rarely shared beyond 1,000 people, but the most popular false news could reach up to 1,00,000.

There isn’t a single way that leads to it’s spread. Almost all social media keeps user preferences as their data. These preferences are used to bring information to users as per their likes or dislikes. This information may be misleading and can act as a medium of it’s spread.

Sometimes a mass of wrong users on social media proficiently create misinformation or hoax and share among themselves. They intentionally pass this misinformation to another set of groups over the internet and the misinformation starts multiplying its audience reach. By the time it reaches you or me, a mass of people has already been exposed to it and it wants to travel beyond us for it’s widespread.

Is Government taking action against fake news spread?

Overtime laws have been implemented for its control and cyber cell units have been established. The cyber police to a much extent can trace the originator of fake news spreader and the law can take its own recourse. But such fake news has to be reported.

Why and how fake news come to us?

Fake news uses us as it’s medium for it’s widespread. Since we are using the technology – say a mobile device, fake news has become the part and parcel of our gadget. It comes to us intentionally or unintentionally. You may receive it from your friends/family/colleagues/social media ads.

How to address fake news and minimize it’s spread?  

We need to educate ourselves with technology – particularly internet usage and need to behave responsibly. Some of the relevant points which may help you to identify and minimize fake news spread are:

1. Apply Logic: Use your own logic. Since fake news is easily believable that’s why they become an issue. Use your critical mindset and don’t be in a hurry to misjudge. Do self-questionings like: why is this news coming to you? Do you have anything to do with it? Is the news trying to make you click and visit some other website? What could be the possible intent of the news?

2. Check the credibility of the source: Always check the credibility and the content of the source of the news you read. Don’t be in a hurry to forward the news which comes with the source. Sometimes fake news does come with the source but when you check the source it does not match with the information you’ve received. This is because the originator of fake news can create web pages, newspaper mockups, edited images that look official.

3. Inform The Fake News: Make others aware. The moment you discover that the news is fake, inform the person sharing such news. This will limit the fake news spread.

4. Join Credible Group: Join social media group which prohibits sharing fake news and encourages sharing real news. In case you find that a large number of members are continuously sharing fake news, request them for not doing so. If they still continue, it’s better to quit such groups.

5. Seek Help: Ask for help. In case if you confront news which you are dubious about and your internet search is limited, ask your friend or family for its genuineness.

6. Use more social media: People often conclude that one way out from fake information is to cut yourself from social media. To run away from the problem is not the solution. Nobody would like to be technologically rejected by modern society we live in. Social media offer privacy settings to the user. One must use these setting to limit crap information pouring in their profile.

Watch the below video on how I discovered fake news and limited its widespread. You may use it as one of the guidelines.

How should we share the information on social media platform?

1. Reading and understanding skill: Develop a clear understanding of the information you are reading. Don’t get carried away by the title. At times title of information and it’s content are not at par. Sometimes readers get confused by punctuation marks like – question mark “?” and full stop “.” and end up misinterpreting the information they have read.

2. Credible Source: Read the information from credible sources only, like – Government forum, national news agency, etc. Formal sources of information are relatively slower than informal sources but are more reliable. Do not compromise quality with quantity. Always try including the source of the information when you share. It makes your sharing credible.

3. Refrain from sharing inauthentic information: Whenever you find any information which you can’t verify, don’t conclude that it’s true. Give it some time. Show some patience and seek help for its authenticity. Unless and until you are confirmed about its authenticity, refrain yourself from sharing it on a public portal.

4. Social media are not a news agency: Most people are under the delusion that social media are a news agency. No! they are not. They are merely a technology-based platform provider that facilitates networking and socializing. These platforms are used by many types of users who may or may not be reliable. So, not every information which appears on social media is correct. Go for a cross-check like – whether the social media platform used by the information publisher is official or not? Whether the information published on social platform matches the publisher’s official forum like – website, mobile app, etc.

What steps social media has taken to limit fake news?

Overtime laws have been established to control anti-social activities on social media. And social media developers have responded to these laws responsibly. Social media have designed their privacy and terms of use statements which are expected to be at par with the regulatory laws. They have taken steps to educate the users about their platform usage and how to prevent the spread of rumors and fake news?

Conclusion: With the advent of social media platforms communication has become faster and distances have shortened. We should learn and educate how to ethically use this superhuman invention and contribute towards the well-being of mankind.