Don't Hit the Share Button Just Yet

 

By Manuel Casasnovas

April 15, 2020 

 
 

Fake news. It’s probably a term you’ve heard before. If it is not part of a headline, it’s most likely being used in conversation when you turn on your TV. Even though the term has gained a lot of popularity in the past couple of years, the concept itself has existed for a very long time. Before fake news was called fake news, many people referred to similar acts as “propaganda” or hoaxes. This concept consists of spreading information that is not true or that cannot be verified. The truth is that fake news plays a part of everyone’s lives today. The current state of technology allows for the spreading of news like wildfire. In March, for example, people turned to social media to spread news that claimed that 5G mobile networks had a role in the spreading of the coronavirus. The news became very popular amongst platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Even celebrities got involved and shared posts that linked 5G networks and the virus. As a result of this, some people in the UK took it upon themselves to attack approximately 50 phone masts in the country. Last month, scientists debunked the claim that 5G networks are in any part responsible for the spread of the coronavirus. However, the attack on the phone masts was not something that occurred last month. It occurred this past weekend. That is just one example of the impact that false information has on people, even after such information is proven to be fake.

 

In times like these, when there is panic and fear, it makes sense that we look for something to comfort us or to put the blame on. The 5G headlines are just one example of this effect. Another example of this can be seen in the recent push of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a treatment for COVID-19. HCQ is a drug used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus). To this day, there is no definitive proof that HCQ can be used to prevent or successfully treat the coronavirus in the human body. It may be possible that in the near future studies do show a positive effect coming from the drug, but that has yet to occur in a setting with large enough samples and clearly defined control groups. Unfortunately, since the drug was mentioned at a press briefing, people that used it to combat autoimmune disease complications or malaria have encountered a shortage of their medication. For this reason, the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance has advised against the use of the drug for coronavirus prevention purposes before there is any solid evidence. They state:

“There currently are no data to recommend the use of HCQ as prophylaxis for COVID-19, although we eagerly await data from trials under way. Thus, we discourage its off-label use until justified and supply is bolstered. The HCQ shortage not only will limit availability to patients with COVID-19 if efficacy is truly established but also represents a real risk to patients with rheumatic diseases who depend on HCQ for their survival.”

 

As people read articles that talk about this spread of inaccurate information, some disregard the notion that it could also affect them. Are you at risk of falling victim to fake news? Yes. Everyone is. A global survey conducted by CIGI (in collaboration with Ipsos), a think tank that focuses on global governance, showed that 86% of people have admitted to falling for fake news at least once. On another study conducted by Avaaz, a US based non-profit, it was found that politically relevant disinformation reached over 158 million views and 8.9 million reactions in Facebook in 2019. It is important that we realize this is not something that happens to just one political party. Republicans share fake news. Democrats share fake news. Every person is vulnerable to this, especially when it is something that aligns with what we want to believe. It is part of our human nature.

We already discussed the negative impact fake news has in the community. It can promote political agendas that are backed up by false information. It can rapidly spread around rumors that have not been proven or are simply untrue. In the midst of a pandemic, there is no place for inaccurate information that could endanger the lives of the people around us. So what are social media companies and governments doing about this? Many social media giants are taking measures to battle this. Twitter directed users that were searching for information about the pandemic to reliable sources such as the WHO. They also ramped up their use of machine learning to take action against content that is potentially abusive or misleading. WhatsApp tightened its limits on forwarding content in order to contain the spread of misinformation. Facebook also increased their use of machine learning by deploying algorithms that attempt to ensure that everyone has access to accurate information. In Vietnam, fines have been implemented for people that use their social media accounts to spread false information. The truth is, however, that even if social media companies and governments put their best effort forward to eliminate fake news, it likely will not be enough to prevent all incorrect information from getting online. This is where we can help. How can we diminish the negative effects of fake news? Here are some steps we can follow:

  1. Look at the source the information came from.
  2. Corroborate the information received by looking at other sources.
  3. Correct the people around us when they have shared something that is untrue or unproven.
  4. Correct ourselves when we are wrong.

In order to combat the spread of misinformation, it is vitally important that we all stand together. This should be a time in which politics and agendas are put aside to focus on the greater good. Our country and the world need us.