Misinformation has stained the social media universe since its inception many years ago. Whereby, people use the various platforms to create fake content, trying to invoke emotion out of users. This style of idiotic behaviour has evolved to use children in what can only be described as, shameful let alone fake content.
For example, an image of a little girl lying unconscious in a hospital bed, her parents nowhere in sight, was shared on Dundee Classifieds Facebook page. The text accompanying the image stated that the child was riding her bicycle when involved in a hit-and-run in Dundee.
The person responsible for the post encouraged Facebook users to share the post so that the girl’s family could see it, as her identity was unknown.
Another post across numerous Facebook groups, showed an image of a young boy named Tyler Anderson, who allegedly went missing on his way to school, all fake.
On top of this, a post on the Estcourt Classifieds page which has since been removed showcased a critically ill baby that was apparently abandoned outside a resident’s home in Estcourt. The person behind the post claimed they had taken the infant to the hospital but called on the community to help locate the child’s parents. This too is fake.
As heartbreaking as each of these posts are, they all have a few things in common. They are all fake and are created by a useless human, trying to gnaw at people’s emotions and indirectly obtain attention.
While it is uncertain why the perpetrators shared these posts, it caught several people’s attention in Estcourt, Dundee and Newcastle who innocently shared the post in an attempt to help.
So how can one spot the difference between misinformation or fake news and the real deal?
Look at the author
TechTarget highlighted that one should perform a search on the author. From there, check for credibility, how many followers they have and how long the account has actually been active.
It is also important to check what other posts and content they have shared on social media, allowing you to gain a better understanding of their behaviour.
Check image authenticity
Thanks to modern technology, one doesn’t have to accept photos at face value. TechTarget explained that Google Reverse Image Search is a simple way to check the image to see where it originated and if it was altered.
Fact checking
A simple way to ensure whether information is true or not is to check reputable media houses or the SAPS, especially with incidents involving missing or injured people
If a person has gone missing or if authorities need to find an injured adult or child’s family, the police will notify the community through credible media products. If the media and police are not aware of the said incident, they have the necessary resources to confirm the case within minutes.
Furthermore, one can also copy the text of the post and insert it into Facebook’s search bar. By doing this one can establish in a matter of seconds if the posts are either false or true.
With this said, be sure to practice caution when scrolling through social media and be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
