Fake News Killing the Social Fibre of India if Unchecked?
Keywords:- Fake News, India, Havoc, Social Media
Written By: Ashi Dubey
ABSTRACT
Fake News is not a small problem. It can become the cause of death for many if it remains unchecked, thus becoming a severe problem. We should not believe in any news before knowing all things about it.
INTRODUCTION
There are two types of News: Fake News and Correct News. Every person must know what is fake news and what is correct news? Firstly, we need to be aware of the news presenters and the news creators. It is the main criteria through which we can make the difference between fake news and the correct news.
If the news is created by anyone then obviously it may be a piece of fake news. But if the news is presented by someone who is a prominent news reporter then it may be considered correct news.
We need to know about the facts, one must check the prominent sources like the internet before believing in any news.
The person who created the fake news obviously created or spread it with an intention to lower someone’s reputation. He/she wanted to make their influence and tried to confuse the public; it mostly happens in political issues. The fake news creators wanted to change the people’s opinion on any topic while spreading their fake propaganda.
They use fake news for propaganda purposes, especially during political rallies. They try to divert people’s attention from the most critical point so that the public doesn’t have their personal opinion or views.
The spread of fake news is directly proportional to the reach of Social Media
Due to the Freedom of Speech (as per Article 19 of the Constitution of India) a person can speak and write anything on social media whether it is correct or not. They only think about their views, their perspective. They really don’t care whether their useless comment or post or irrelevant material on social media can hurt someone’s emotion or harm them.
But now many laws have been made, the restrictions have been implemented in Malaysia. Which states that the person who will spread fake news. He/she will be fined around five lakh ringgit (the currency of Malaysia) and around 6 years of imprisonment. Now in India also there are many laws which have been made and implemented. So that before sharing any kind of fake news or rumours a person will think twice.
How has social media or technology played an overall role in the field of communication between people?
Social media gives a platform to everyone. It is very helpful for introverted people who didn’t come forward to share their views. Now they can communicate with people all around the world with full confidence. People staying away from their families can use these platforms to keep in touch with their family members.
Social media reduces the communication gap between people but it can increase the uncertainty in people’s self-respect. Most people share their correct personal information on social media due to which some people misuse their information and start bullying or harassing people.
Fake news is a cause of Death for Many
Fake news is killing people. In the last two years, we have been grappling in India with a terrible phenomenon called WhatsApp killings. Over 33 people have died because they have been killed by rampaging mobs on the suspicion of being child kidnappers.
Rumours spread on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, share chat and many more which added up to 500 million subscribers.
In Karnataka earlier this year a young engineer driving through the village along with his friend. Was pulled out, beaten up and killed on the suspicion of being a child kidnapper.
In Assam also two youngsters driving in an SUV were similarly pulled out. After being stopped and killed by a mob in the village on suspicion that they were child kidnappers.
India must be the only country where social media has led to rumours which have led to brutal murders and killing.
Sometimes they spread fake news related to a particular community which has created communal riots and violence which led to the destruction.
Last year the entire internet, not just social media platforms washed with rumours of state-owned banks were shutting down. None of them has yet but try telling that to a 60 or 70-year-old pensioner whose life savings have been locked up in a fixed deposit in one of those banks.
KERALA INCIDENT
Earlier this year in monsoon, the state of Kerala in South India was hit by floods but more than the flood. More than the hundreds of people who died, more than the billions of dollars of destruction that happened, what made the news was fake news.
Every hour there would be videos, posts, WhatsApp forwards of dams bursting, animals being swept away and also donations being promised when they clearly were not. For hundreds and thousands of people who were living away from near their dear ones trying to find out what was happening in Kerala. You all understood the anxiety that these people were going through.
Fake news is very harmful as it will create chaos in society unless it is checked as in the case of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). It creates a lot of disputes in the various cities of the country. And the fake news about it creates misunderstandings among the public. It will create a negative or harmful environment for the people.
Fake news is no less than an invisible weapon which will harm our society very badly. This fake news is the reason for a conflict between two communities or two different groups. Because the fake news misguided them and it is not the complete fault of the news creator. Somehow we common people are also responsible for the violence because blind trust in anything reflects the person’s stupidity, their ignorance. So before taking any step we will make sure that by our work no one gets hurt.
Why did fake news get so much popularity?
Fake news got so much popularity because of us, we believe in any irrelevant material or news very easily. We don’t use our minds, our intelligence in finding out the truth. We are so lazy that we don’t check official websites before believing in any news. The main reason is our carelessness, laziness and lack of awareness about our own country.
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