All of us have heard of the term ‘yellow journalism’ at least once in our lifetime. As it becomes increasingly difficult to pinpoint the difference between reality and pure fiction, every literate individual with the guts to question watches this unethical side of journalism become a grim reality. Imagine a newsroom where facts are optional and the truth is subjective.
Not only would it be chaos, but it would also erode the very foundation of journalism. With revolutionary advancements in technology, it is almost impossible to decipher what is real, thus, each internet surfer creates their reality with shallow facts. Who believes them? You may ask. Thousands do, if not millions. One eerie fact about misinformation is how easy it is to spread. An unfortunate number of people, both on and off the internet, feed off of false information related to other living and breathing human beings.
Let us talk in terms of Pakistan. The country that gained independence a mere 74 years back has been relatively slow in catching up with international standards of development. However, that does not mean it is losing the, “Who’s going to spread false information and ruin lives?” competition. You may have heard the old news that bread causes cancer through your parents’ Facebook and WhatsApp group chat. You may have laughed at it and told your folks to let it go. Did you consider why or where that news came from? Who generated it and successfully caused a national-level panic among Gen X?
This leads us to the question: Why would anyone find it fun to spread false news? There’s always a psychological reason behind grave issues like this. The American Psychological Association asserts that people tend to spread false information when it resonates with their personal beliefs or social norms, when it offers something fresh and intriguing, and when it can trigger powerful emotions within the viewer or receiver.
These echo chambers do not need to believe what they are spreading as they might simply utilize this immensely powerful tool to indicate their political leanings, criticize perceived adversaries, or gain social recognition. Why? Because some people love fame no matter the price of it. In times when users prioritize speed over accuracy and authenticity, everything becomes a race to win. On an individual level, people often share false information unintentionally.
They might not verify the authenticity of a piece of news before sharing it or might lack the taught skills to discern credible sources from unreliable ones. The rapid pace of information exchange on social media exacerbates this issue. However, there is also national-level propaganda with groups designed to penetrate it till it reaches the target audience. These include political operatives, ideologically driven groups, and foreign entities aiming to sow discord and manipulate public opinion, morphing it into something they can control.
These actors use sophisticated tactics which often go unnoticed by the public, to create and disseminate false information, exploiting social media algorithms to maximize reach and impact. Your favorite celebrities are not free of this virus either as false information is the easiest to propagate by celebrities and influencers, who have large followings and significant influence over their audiences across the globe. When such figures share false information, it can quickly gain traction and be accepted as truth by their fans who blindly follow every trend and every word that comes out of their mouth.
Since we are talking about trends we might as well discuss how people are more likely to believe information that appears popular and widely accepted. The anonymity and ease of use provided by social media also contribute to the problem at hand. The creation of fake accounts and the use of bots to amplify false information to make it appear more credible and widespread than it is automatically manipulates and distorts the public perception and influences behavior.
Now, let us stop with the depressing reality of the digital world and come to a solution. Is there any solution at all? You might think to deactivate your social media accounts once and for all to escape the matrix. There are several ways to make these dystopian times, well, less dystopian. Our government can learn a lot from Finland. The country is rated at the top among all the countries in Europe to resist the rapidly spreading false information.
The Guardian, in its report from 2020, shares how Finland is taking the battle against misinformation pretty seriously by teaching everyone from children to working adults how to disintegrate news on social platforms. Recognizing the immense threat posed by the rapidly spreading virus of fake news, the Finnish government has integrated media literacy into the national curriculum from an early age. Students are taught to critically evaluate information, recognize bias, and verify sources before sharing it further.
This education extends beyond schools, with public campaigns aimed at all age groups, promoting awareness and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape. The government collaborates with media organizations, tech companies, and civil society to ensure a coordinated response to misinformation. What can Pakistan do? Journalist Javeria Siddique, in a video shared online, emphasizes on the importance of owning one’s responsibility as a functioning member of society.
She proceeds by addressing the media and the public and urging them to do thorough research on every news we see on the internet before clicking the share button, while also regulating our attitude towards information in our private lives. Jarida Today has high hopes for the future as we leave no stone unturned to retrieve authentic news regarding all things Pakistan and beyond. With the strategies shared above, Pakistan can emerge as the leader in this global battle against the spread of misinformation.
