Fake news – a big menace that requires a big solution

Abstract

Fake news has been in news recently in India. WhatsApp viral messages that were
found to be fake have led to mob-lynching of more than 25 people in the recent past.
After a good sleep the Government is now waking-up to control things. This article
tries to reach to the root of the problem and comes up with some suggestions. It
carries an appeal to the social media users to be more responsible than ever in order to
protect the dignity, ethics and values attached with news. The problem certainly needs
to be fixed immediately. If not, it can be misused by miscreants to achieve notorious
purposes.

Key words – Authenticity, Fake news, Social media, WhatsApp

1. Introduction

In recent times the word “Feku” has got quite popular. It means one who tells lies
after lies. And then there are people who are experts in spreading lies. Thanks to the
spread of social media, fake news circulation has been rampant of late in India. James
Carson (2017) writing for The Telegraph, has written that fake news is a term of
recent origin (in the USA). It is something that has been in the limelight only for the
past two years. But it gained so much popularity that it was ranked as 2017’s term of
the year. In India in the past 3 months or so the term fake news has suddenly shot-up
in the media with horrific consequences of mob-lynching that have led to deaths of
around 25 people. The Guardian (2018) has reported that since May 2018, the mob-
lynching of at least 24 people accused of being child kidnappers have been linked to
the social media platform that is used by more than 200 million Indians. At the same
time, many other accused child kidnappers escaped dozens of other mob attacks with
injuries. Police found that mass-circulated WhatsApp messages carrying false
information about child kidnappers being on the prowl in the areas led to most of
these attacks. This is absolutely horrendous. For no fault of theirs, if people are being
attacked by mobs and are killed, it is a great shame for the country. This article tries
to probe the menace in details in order to arrive at some practical solutions to fix it.
 2. Different types of fake news

Fake news is fed in different forms. Catchy and sensational headlines, lack of
authenticity, attractive images etc. are the traps that are laid to spread the fake news.
Webwise has given different dimensions of fake news.

a. Clickbait

Clickbait are stories that are intentionally fabricated to attract more website visitors
and increase advertising revenue for websites. Clickbait stories use sensational
headlines to grab attention and drive click-throughs to the publisher website, normally
at the cost of truth or accuracy.

b. Propaganda

Stories that are intentionally created to mislead audiences, promote a biased point of
view or particular political cause or agenda.

c. Satire/Parody

Many websites and social media accounts publish fake news stories for entertainment
and parody. For example - The Onion, Waterford Whispers, The Daily Mash, etc.

d. Sloppy Journalism

At times reporters or journalists may publish a story with information that cannot be
relied upon or without checking all the facts which can mislead audiences. For
example, during the U.S. elections, fashion retailer Urban Outfitters published an
Election Day Guide, the guide contained incorrect information telling voters that they
needed a ‘voter registration card’. This is not required by any state in the U.S. for
voting.

e. Misleading Headings

Stories that are not completely false can be distorted by using misleading or
sensationalist headlines. Such types of news can spread quickly on social media sites
where only headlines and small snippets of the full article are displayed on audience
newsfeeds.

f. Biased/Slanted News

Lots of people are drawn to news or stories that confirm their own beliefs or biases
and fake news can prey on these biases. Social media news feeds tend to display
articles and news which they think readers will like based on their personalized
searches.

3. The Business sense in the Fake News

Ordinary people are generally clueless about the economics’ of the fake news
circulation. Fake news circulation on the social media has a healthy business model.

The internet and social media have made it quite easy for anyone to publish content
on a website, blog or social media profile and potentially reach a big chunk of
audience. With so many people now getting hooked to social media sites, many
content creators/publishers use this to their advantage.

Fake news can be a moneymaking business, generating hefty advertising revenue for
publishers who create and publish stories that go viral. The more clicks a story gets,
the more money online publishers make through advertising revenue. Thus, for many
publishers social media is an attractive channel to share content and drive web traffic.
Media has no longer remained passive. It is actively created, shared, liked,
commented on, attacked and defended in all sorts of different ways by hundreds of
millions of people. The programming done by powerful tech companies like Google,
Facebook etc. are designed superbly to personalize and customize these services to
each user’s profile.

When we are online or login to a social network we are generally presented with
news, articles and content based on our own online searches. This type of content feed
tends to reflect our own likes, views and beliefs and therefore isolating us from
differing views and opinions. This is referred to as a filter bubble in the social media
parlance.
 4. Dealing with fake news

Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have announced new measures to tackle fake news.
Reporting and flagging tools have been introduced. Media organizations like the BBC
and Channel 4 have also set-up fact checking sites. WhatsApp recently in India
released a full-first-page advertisement in leading newspapers to fight against fake
news.

These are some welcome developments. But digital media literacy and developing
skills to critically evaluate information are important skills for the users navigating the
internet and especially for young people.

The sea of information available online and rise in fake news highlights the need for
critical thinking. Particularly kids need to develop critical thinking from an early age.
This is an important skill for young people to develop as they enter into third level
education and prepare themselves for the workplace.
5. Spotting fake news?

Little bit of common sense, patience and application of mind can help the
readers to evaluate the online content properly. Following things are
recommended in this regard –

a. Inculcating a sense of responsibility

All the media users should inculcate a strong sense of responsibility. They
should be aware of the fact that irresponsible behavior on their part can be
potentially dangerous.

b. Establishing authenticity of the source

If you check the source of the story, can you recognize the website? Is it a
credible or reliable source? If you are unfamiliar with the site, you need to
look in the “about section” or find out more information about the author.

c. Not getting carried away by the headline

One should check the entire article. Many fake news stories use sensational or
shocking headlines to grab attention. Often the headlines of fake new stories
are in all caps and use exclamation marks.

d. Confirming the news from other sources

We need to ask these questions - are other reputable news or media sources
reporting on the story? Are there any other sources quoted in the story? If so, it
should be checked if they are reliable or if they even exist in the first place.

e. Keeping a tab on the facts

Fake news stories often contain wrong dates or altered timelines. It is also
suggested that one should check when the article was published, is it current or
an old news story?
 f. Being aware of our biases

One should be aware of our own biases. Are our own views or beliefs
affecting our judgment of a news feature or report? This question should be
asked.

g. Is the news item intended for mere fun?

Satirical sites are quite famous online and sometimes it is not always clear
whether a story is just a joke or parody. One should check the website, and
find out if it is known for satire or creating funny stories.

6. A three-prong defense

Fighting the menace of fake news will require concerted and coordinated efforts from
all the corners. The Government, the media platforms and the users, all of them will
have to team-up together to take on the fake news problem. Government on its part
will have to provide a holistic framework for controlling fake news. It will have to lay
down clear set of regulations to prevent the spreading of the fake news. Similarly it
will also have to formulate stringent rules for punishing those who are found guilty.
Times of India, 1st September, 2018 has reported that Heads of social media houses
would be charged with criminal offences if fake news issues are detected. This is a
welcome measure. But a comprehensive legislation should be adopted to deal with the
menace. Social media houses also need to act responsibly and sensibly. Short-term
gains should not be the driving factor. They should keep in mind that reliability,
authenticity and genuineness are things that cannot be compromised. If they are, they
come with a big cost. And finally the users will have to be more responsible. They
will have to care for the authenticity of the source of the news. They will have to
exercise more vigil while dealing with news that are sensitive in nature.
 7. Conclusion

Recent incidences have shown that there is a great risk of people getting swayed away
with fake news. Consequences are really serious. Authenticity of the source of the
news is the most important thing. Awareness about fake news is lacking seriously.
Efforts in this direction should be stepped up immediately. Government, social media
houses and the users, all will have to play their part in controlling the spread of fake
news. More responsible behavior is called for. At the same time a comprehensive
legislation should be put in place to prevent the spread of fake news and also to
stringently punish those who are found guilty. Otherwise miscreants can use fake
news as an easy channel to achieve their malicious intentions.
References

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/whatsapps-10-easy-tips-to-spot-fake-news-
hoax/20180710.htm

https://www.webwise.ie/teachers/what-is-fake-news/

James Carson, 2017, “Fake news: What exactly is it – and how can you spot it?” The
Telegraph

The Guardian, 2018, 'Fake news often goes viral': WhatsApp ads warn India after
mob lynchings, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/fake-news-
whatsapp-ads-india-mob-lynchings

Times of India, 1st September, 2018