BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SHARE AND CLICK ON

In our Internet age, there is a plethora of information available at the click of a button. So much so, that it’s hard to know what to believe anymore and leading me to ask for the umpteenth time "Is truth under assault?"  I am continually disturbed by the countless websites and politically-biased blogs that  have been masquerading as legitimate news outlets and publishing outlandish articles that grab people’s attention. 

Writers create stories full of embellishment and false claims from “unnamed sources”, slap on sensationalist titles, and then share them with the world. And it works! Curious readers can’t help but click on these catchy headlines. Granted, some of the misinformation floating around on the Internet is relatively harmless. However, given the contentious times we live in, fake news stories run the risk of further dividing us.  Consider too, that I am not even touching on the hate and   bigotry that is frequently spewed on social media (a subject unto itself).  I am equally bothered by the malicious, mean and hurtful personal attacks levelled against individuals -- public figures or otherwise -- with gay abandon and often without deserved provocation.  But that too is another story.

Historical Context

It is worth noting that fake news is not a modern creation. In fact, news publications have been writing bombastic stories and stretching the truth for years. Known as “yellow journalism”, it became a popular strategy for selling newspapers around the turn of the century. Even today, yellow journalism continues in the form of tabloids and gossip magazines. 

So, what’s the big deal? Fake news has been around forever. Why are people worried about it now? Partly, it’s the times we live in. The newspaper industry is in the midst of a decline, and more people than ever before are relying on the Internet to keep them up-to-date. Only a minority choose to read online versions of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Toronto Star or Globe & Mail.  In fact, studies show that roughly 62 percent of adults are getting their news from Facebook. How unfortunate!

Fake news articles are thriving in the Facebook environment, where users scroll quickly through their feeds looking for interesting stuff. People often share links based on the headline alone – without bothering to look at the authenticity of the source. This allows phony articles to spread like wildfire as they get shared over and over again.

* It should be underlined here that along with a new computer, I have installed a new security system that blocks potential malware when I am foolish enough to click on what looks to be an interesting graphic, video, news item, clever saying or expression.  Almost unbelievably, 80 percent of friends' Facebook posts that I have clicked on in the past week have been rejected for security reasons.

So, dear friends, when you think that you are sharing useful or inspiring tidbits from unknown sources there is a very good chance that you are innocently picking up viruses and passing them along to equally innocent friends and in so doing lending yourselves to the scammers and phishers of the world who are ruining social media in general...and for you and I in particular.

Some fake news outlets even use legitimate-sounding names to further confuse people. For example, an article posted by “The Denver Guardian” was shared over half a million times on Facebook. As it turns out, “The Denver Guardian” doesn’t exist. A curious news reporter decided to visit the listed address, and all they found was a tree sitting in an empty parking lot.

Moving Forward

There’s no getting around it: a lot of nasty rhetoric has been thrown around over the past year and there is a sense that many of our brothers and sisters are feeling increasingly divided. However, the last thing we need moving forward is more finger pointing and name calling. There are many problems in the world, but we don’t stand a chance of solving them unless we work together.

All the hubbub surrounding fake news also serves as an important reminder about staying true to one’s values and beliefs. One of the core tenets is “to do that which is right”. This means upholding a standard of truth and honesty at all times. Especially in these politically polarized times, it’s important to engage honestly with one another – even if we disagree. Starting a dialogue and listening to opposing ideas is the first step toward developing a mutual understanding.

Sure, there may be people out there seeking to make a buck by spreading lies and misinformation – but that does not mean we have to stand for it. As individuals, we are obligated to resist these petty efforts to create divisions in our society. We cannot assume everything we read on the Internet is true, nor should we allow ourselves to pass judgment without getting both sides of the story.

Do your due-diligence research before jumping to conclusions on any issue or cause.  Truth still matters...and eventually wins out in the end.