Check facts before sharing content on social media
Before you like, comment on or share an article, check the facts first.
WITH the proliferation of fake news sites, it has become increasingly vital to know how to sort fact from fiction.
How many articles have you seen shared on social media that you are certain are hogwash? Or, how many times have you liked, shared or saved an article that turns out to be an absolute fabrication?
With social media making it easier for people to garner followers, the spread of fake news has the power to influence and shape the world around us in ways that were unforeseen.
These sites or articles often use a small piece of current news and twist it to fit their agenda to target people with similar viewpoints.
This week’s Southlands Sun reported that there are plans to upgrade Brighton Beach in such a way that it would receive Blue Flag status. A fake news writer, might for example, write an article stating that some public figure was behind the ‘plans’ and that they are doing it for nefarious purposes of their own.
You know there is truth in the plans to upgrade the beach so you will be more inclined to believe the news about the nefarious plans because of this kernel of truth.
Fact checking sites, like Snopes.com, Factcheck.org and PolitiFact.com have become essential sources for checking the veracity of an article or a rumour.
It is often difficult to track the purveyors of fake news because they are in foreign countries or operating under secrecy. It is, however easy to track down the people who interact with the news as they often have public profiles, linked to their contact details.
Next time you like, comment on or share something, check the facts first. Remember, you could be liable should the article prove to be false or defamatory. Even though you did not produce the content, you have disseminated it or attached your identity to it in some way and that makes you just as accountable.
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