Ever come across an article online that did not seem right? Did you question it or did you just believe what they had to say without researching it any further? This commonly happens across all social media platforms. Instantly, with the click of a button, these articles can be shared with thousands of people without holding any credibility to the author.
It is important for people to be able to point out what news is fake and what is real. Though it may seem harmless in some cases, these articles can persuade peoples perspectives on different topics and possibly their actions. Social media users need to be alert that there is a lot of fake information out there and not to believe everything they see online.
Some people might find it useful to use sites like FactCheck.org to see if the information is true or misleading.
For example, it was stated that the Scientist at the University of WI claimed that an underwater volcano was going to erupt within the next 24 hours. This is going to cause people to share it to spread awareness for the crisis without checking to see if it is true or not. It puts people in a state of panic and might cause them to do things that are not necessary like relocating.
On the other hand, some people love fake news. Though they may be aware of the information being false, they find it entertaining. People tend to enjoy stirring the pot and checking to see who else will fall for these stories and how far they can go. They will simply share it which then causes the fake story to reach a larger audience.
Fake news was a huge issue when the Corona Virus Pandemic appeared. People did not know what news sources to believe and what precautions were necessary in the beginning. There was false information on how people should protect themselves, what to expect if they were to get it, and what was going to end up happening to society. This put most people in a state fear and then some people were convinced that there was nothing to worry about.
In conclusion, people need to be aware of what information they take in from social media and how they are going to let it affect them. People should not be persuaded by anything they see online without making sure it is from a credible source and can be backed up from different resources as well. Social media is a good way to keep up with what is going on around people but they cannot fall for fake news.
