‘Identify fake news, its misuse’

sharjah — The participants in the first sessions of the second day of the International Forum on Government Communication entitled “The Role of Social Media platforms – from Participation to Real Partnership” asked for activating the means of social communication and involving youth in decision-making.

They also called for finding a mechanism to control false news on digital platforms before it is spread, stressing that the false news spreads widely through social media. The participants suggested the importance of that every government department should have a spokesman to deal with the traditional media and social media.

The session discussed the positive role of social media in encouraging the youth and all social segments to create a public opinion on the important cross-border issues. It also examined whether social media offer a supporting, neutral or opposing opinion in each case.

The session examined how social media platforms are used by governments to encourage individuals and groups to change behaviours and become part of development process. The session identified how social media can shift the interest from individual issues to collective communities issues.

The session was attended by Saeed Saleh Al Remethi, member of the Federal National Council; Ashraf Zeitoon, founding partner and chief innovation officer, Diplomacy lab; Edoila, secretary general of the world assembly of youth and director of world youth Institute (WYI ); and Dr Nicholas Christakis, sociologist and physician, director of Human Nature lab, Yale University .