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We live in an information age where there is instant access to a vast amount of data. Social media is now an essential element of everyday life. However, with this ease of access comes a responsibility to ensure that all information shared is accurate and factual. Sadly, in recent times, there has been an increasing trend of people sharing unverified information, which can have severe consequences.
There may be any number of reasons that information is shared without being fact-checked. Perhaps someone is trying to make a point to support their argument or establish their authority on a topic. Alternatively, someone might have heard something from someone they consider trustworthy without feeling the need to check the validity of the information they’re sharing.
Whatever the reason, sharing unverified information can be incredibly dangerous. One of the most significant recent incidents involving the spreading of unverified information took place during the Covid-19 outbreak. Numerous reports circulated, suggesting that drinking bleach or consuming other unproven substances could cure the virus. This information was dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Sadly, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of believing unverified information. Often, these claims are emotionally driven or designed to appeal to our fears and insecurities. Equally concerning is that when something is shared on social media, it may spread like wildfire across online platforms, making it difficult to contain.
The risks of sharing false or unverified information are many. At a personal level, people may spread false information and believe it to be true, damaging their reputation among peers. More seriously, unverified information can lead to damaging consequences, such as financial losses, illnesses, and even fatalities.
Another issue that arises when people share unverified information is that it can create divisions and deepen societal cleavages. For instance, political disinformation is rampant in several countries worldwide, creating rifts between communities. There’s also the problem of members of the public not trusting any information from mainstream sources and instead relying on conspiracy theories that might be objectively false or have little basis in fact.
If you work in any capacity online, it’s vital to ensure the information being shared is accurate, correct, and supported by evidence. That could mean fact-checking information before sharing it, verifying the sources behind statements or quotes. Additionally, it’s essential to identify potential biases, including political or financial biases, among sources of information or viewpoints.
Educating people on the need to verify information ought to be a priority. We need to teach the younger generation the importance of critical thinking. Children must be taught to question the validity of statements they hear and to take steps to verify resources before sharing, copying or forwarding to others.
A tool often used to promote the sharing of verified information is a fact-checking service. These are organizations that verify the accuracy or inaccuracy of news stories and other media. Fact-checkers often work for news networks or independent organizations that specialize in verifying information and sources.
Fact-checking sites are everywhere, and people can learn a lot from them. It’s essential to note that merely because a fact-checker isn’t available at the time of sharing information doesn’t mean the information is correct.
It’s not just individuals who can be the victims of unverified information. Brands and businesses can suffer along with the rest of us. False information circulating round the internet may harm their reputation or lead to significant financial losses. Furthermore, the news media can be negatively affected by unverified information on social media. It presents a challenge to journalists, editors, and other professionals who must verify information before sharing it with their audience.
A good journalist knows how to identify fake information and avoid spreading it. They use their experience and skills to verify information through interviewing sources, looking at public records, consulting the media guidelines or stylebooks, and using evidence-based verification tactics.
In conclusion, while social media poses an enormous challenge to the dissemination of verified information, it is essential to appreciate the value of trustworthy evidence. Many negative issues arising from the spread of unverified information can be avoided by education and the use of critical thinking. It’s essential to take responsibility for the information we share and to verify information sources before sharing it across platforms or misinforming ourselves. The internet has given us all the freedom to share, engage and influence others. Therefore, we must use this power wisely to make sure we transmit only accurate and verified information.
