Disinformation overload
The information environment on the Internet has rapidly evolved and has reached fever pitch due to the pandemic. Truth and falsehood compete for the minds of millions of users worldwide. A user must learn to discern.
The pandemic that has triggered this information frenzy has doubled or tripled the number of hours users spend on the Internet. It is the best “past time” if you are bored at home due to lockdowns. Plus, ordering food online has spiraled. Compare your lifestyle before the pandemic and now, and you will realize your finger may be overused.
Subtle disinformation is the most dangerous form of falsehood. There are “disinformation specialists” who specialize in this and are very good in convincing readers of falsehood guised as truth. They are different from the trolls, who are cheap disinformation mercenaries, whose style is cruder and more easily discerned by shrewd readers. Yet their impact is deep because readers are mostly gullible and reckless.
It is important therefore for Internet users, in cruising through this global information jungle, to be more cautious and discerning, to avoid sharing by quick reflex before one has even completely read an article. We are all victims of fake news because of this. A fake news which goes viral does a lot of damage as it reaches millions of Internet users, often fraught with injustice.
There are now online courses on how to discern fake news. But you do not need this. The first thing to do is to check the date an article is published. If it is old news, it is probably fake news. Second is to check the source of the article, the publisher. If it is published by an unknown or a suspected fly-by-night site, there is more reason to suspect.
Some wait for news to appear in traditional mass media before believing a story.
This is a good way, but remember that fake news, which has grown rapidly in social media, is now infecting even traditional mass media. So, be extra careful.
Users will mainly not spend time to try to verify if an article is fake. First, that is hard to do. Second, often, users make judgements based on bias or gut feel. Read only what you believe in, and reject others. Falsehood is easily accepted and shared this way.
Right now, there is an ongoing global cyber war on the vaccine issue. The pro-vax and anti-vax compete for the minds of users. The pro-vax is accused of profit motive. The anti-vax is accused of lack of scientific evidence. Both pro-vax and anti-vax sometimes use highly technical language beyond ordinary understanding, only to give an impression of scientific “expertise.” “Experts” can give fake stories. After reading pro- and anti-vax articles, a reader is confused and does not know whom to believe. When truth is elusive, there is doubt, falsehood reigns.
There is a second global cyber war between factions in the Vatican, pro-Pope and anti-Pope advocates. A “theologian” speaking with “authority” can sway readers
“The coming 2002 elections are now triggering ‘disinformation storms’ this early.
“Subtle disinformation is the most dangerous form of falsehood.
to hate the Pope. For example, an anti-Pope website quoted a cardinal accusing the Pope of “blasphemy” or “heresy” based on unfounded or questionable evidence, which went viral.
Liberal Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope ever, started getting flak from conservative Cardinals when he, upon ascending the throne, quickly got rid of conservatives in the Roman Curia, the most powerful Vatican office, which has never been done before. Before Pope Francis, the conservatives dominated the Vatican for a century. Pope Francis is the first liberal in a century or so. This ongoing “civil war” was prophesied by Our Lady of Fatima.
It was the pandemic which saved Pope Francis. The faithful converged toward him on the Internet. His online Easter Mass last year was viewed by millions, which never happened before the pandemic. His famous homily Urbi et Orbi went viral.
The coming 2002 elections are now triggering “disinformation storms” this early. Readers are forewarned before wading in murky waters to be extra cautious in believing, then quickly sharing. The Internet has the power to pedestal the “wrong” candidates.