Fake news: warning on ‘shares’

FAKE news has been spreading faster than usual, as people spend most of their time on their phones during the lockdown.

From conspiracies to memes, social media is flooded with posts that end up on most people’s smart devices.

Over the long weekend, one of the posts about liquor going on sale again during the lockdown made the news.

While the posts might be talking points for many, people need to be aware of the implications of sharing fake news on social media.

The government has stipulated that anyone who creates or spreads fake news about the coronavirus is liable for prosecution. Every person is required to verify the information, before they share it.

Thabiso Moloi, digital and social lead at ByDesign Communications, said people needed to be especially careful with the information they shared during the Covid-19 crisis.

“It is a global problem. We have been warned that social accounts are now spreading fear and fake news. The exact scale of misinformation is difficult to measure,” Moloi said.

He said when people over-shared the information by retweeting and forwarding it, it became a bigger problem. “Even something as simple as liking or posting a story they find ‘useful’ (can be problematic). It is difficult for people to know which sources are credible and which ones aren’t.

“But people have to now check to see if they are reading trusted sources, and do follow-up research.

“If only one news outlet is reporting something that seems like huge news, that should be a red flag.”

Moloi said people latched onto the fake news about liquor being sold, because it was a trending topic. |