Warning!!! How Social Media Is Spreading Fake News
On June 2017, the fake news story about the death of Vitalik Buterin caused Ethereum to lose 4B$ in Market Cap. In fact, Face Book and Google , are fraught with fake news of recent events that affect human lives -either the death of a popular celebrity or blaming an innocent person of a crime he/she did not commit. Moreover, this was true in the US election where special interest groups spread fake news on Facebook , Linkedin, Twitter and even google in order to win over large crowds for their political gains.
Recently, Facebook and Google promoted false news from Gateway Pundit story claiming that the shooter who killed more than 50 people in Las Vegas was a Democrat named Geary Danley , an Obama supporter who opposed Donald Trump. This lead to Geary Danley´s pictures being shared everywhere in the internet and death threats were sent to his entire family because people without seeking to know the truth jumped to false conclusion. Some points to note:
- Check the sources: you have to check the original source of the news before coming to a conclusion .For example, some sources are well known for their political or ideological views and will twist any story in their own favor.
- Do your own research: ask questions and search on well-known / credible platforms in order to know if the story is true.
- Read Past The Headline : read the main story in order to see the big picture-because some headlines are used to attract readers .
- Who Is The Author: the author can reveal a lot of information about the news source, so take note.
- Search If Other News Outlets Are Reporting It: if the news is real, then you can find it in most credible news platform.
Conclusion: Most of us are victims to online character assassination which is an unfortunate thing. In fact, fake news is everywhere: radio , TV, Internet, newspapers and can cause serious damage to our lives . It is therefore, important not to come to a premature conclusion rather we should do our own research via many credible sources in order to find out the truth.
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Net neutrality and decentralisation has a by-product, anyone and everyone has a certain degree of freedom to express information (whether true to fact or not) the way they see fit. Especially nowadays where "influencers" literally go around the internet touting dubious information and using their sphere of influence to spread information that may be inaccurate.
However, it is also these axioms laid before us that allow the crowd to decide what to consider accurate, and what not to. If only humans had the ability to disengage from sheep herding behaviour, and think independently of peer pressure.
Sadly people of any age think that they must go along with the crowd.They want to be accepted even if they know otherwise as it is easier and sadly that is why many in this or thw previous generation have not created much in music,movies and other areas they have remade so much from the creativity that waa once plentiful but again that would take time and being able to think on their own.... Very sad ....
@sweetsssj I agree with you view Point, thanks for your comment. We all are experiencing both sides of technological Innovation plus freedom of speech. I, however, only hope that civility and due diligence will be employed by most stakeholders.
Absolutely I completely agree. Either its better the people learn to mature at humans and work together using intelligence & common sense respect. Nature will weed out what is not authentic in my opinion.
I think this blind, non thinking reactionary response is the product of 40 years of an education system where logic, and critical thinking are no longer the number one concern.
It has been replaced by a non empirical educational bias.
'The humanities angle', if you will.
We are now reaping the rewards of it, with a mal educated, emotionally driven population, who lack the skills to dissect, and analyze information clearly.
It does not bode well, and will take some years to 'revert back', I fear,
Good point, I agree with you .
Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Good point, I guess that you are quoting from experience?
hope you have not been a victim
Sadly due diligence seems to be a thing of the past. In this age of "instant information" most people never even think to check and see if that sound bite they are gossiping about is accurate.
I've seen some crazy stories in the last couple of months on social media (Pepsi is discontinuing Mountain Dew? LOL) And yet, even if you cite sources and debunk the gossip, it's like YOU are the bad apple for telling the truth. We truly have followed in Rome's footsteps, and just like them, we will fall if we are not careful.
Very good point @tabzjones , I agree with you. People just blindly accept anything they see on social media without doing their own research and this is sad
How fake news can spread on Linkedin?? Isn't that a so-called professional social media site?
Yes but people do spread fake news in personal updates..I see it daily on linkedin
Yes, I can understand it, but how can anyone considering themselves "professional" can take those seriously?
How can someone be part of a white-collar job, that usually needs extensive mental challanges, and reconsidering statements, believe so much bullshit without realizing the contradiction and the lies?
Not that I think it's impossible, but rather surreal.
Some people are ruthless and dont care...some send fake news daily on lInkedin about Obama or any other person they dont like...I ignore such post are de-friend the sender however in such hate updat, you see many comments in support or against it and its mostly racial ...not professional at all.
Damn, that's disgusting. I thought only "truly mainstream" sites like Facebook and Twitter has that kind of shit in such an amount.
Its more in facebook and twitter however you can see those hateful pople eveywhere ...remember that it is free to creat an account isnt it?
Something being free doesn't imply it's fucked up.
Good point, however where you have millions of members, you will certainly see those who will spread their ideologies in any way possible even via fake news
Bec. its unverified and everyone have an access to post. Then it is a perfect haven for fake trolls who create fake
Good point...hope you have not been a victim
This is becoming an issue in this in this era of social media. People need to check facts before reposting
Good point, I agree. Hope you have not been a victim
@blueorgy , what do you think about the fake news issue?
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That is a big one. It is easy to read the headline and accept the news based on your ideology.
Good point @lydon.sipe I agree..thanks