Social media sites should be fact checking and removing false information because fake news is dangerous.
Since Trumpwas bannedfrom nearly every social-media site, theres more conversation about whether such platforms should have consequences for people including people in the Hawkeye State who spread false, misleading, or harmful information.Social media needsto have fact checkers, and peopleshould besuspended when necessary.
Social media is an easy place to spread any information, including false, misleading, and harmful information. Sites have a responsibility tomonitorand stop the spread of fake news.
Many sites, such as Twitter, already have fact checkers that check viral tweets. If they are false, there is a tag on them that can lead people to true information.Some people such as Iowa House of Representatives member Sandy Salmon view sites marking false information as unnecessary censorship.
Many times, I have assumed a factoid circling a social media platformto betrue, buta notation fromTwitter or Facebook let me know it was not. Because of this, I did not spread the information to anyone else, which may have harmed others.
Fake news no, not CNN is more serious than many may think because it has caused multiple cases of violence.
Conspiracy theories that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent ran rampant on social media andare citedas one of theprimary causesof the insurrection at the U.S.capitol.
It is important that we alltry andstop the spread of such informationin order tostop future acts of violence, but the main responsibility falls on those in charge of social media sites.
Social media sites alsohave the optionof suspending or permanently banning people or organizations that often spread false information.
This is what Americans saw with Donald Trump. After Twitter banned Trump and other accounts prone to misinformation, the fake news spread on social media went down by73 percent. Though this decision made a lot of people upset, it was ultimately for the better.
Social media sites should all add to their terms and conditions that false and harmful information cannot be spread on their platform. This way if someone is knowingly and repeatedly doing this, theycan beremoved from the platform.
Of course, everyone has a personal responsibility totry andweed out fake news. However, the truth is that most people cannot.
A Stanford study found thattwo-thirds of college studentswere unable to discern real information from fake news.
Apps likeTikTokarent as rigorous with fact-checking information. This is especiallyconcerningfor college students, because theaverageTikTokuser is between the ages of 16-24.
This means that if weare fedfake news, there is nothing present to tell us it is wrong. Sincethe majority ofcollege students cannot decipher between real and fake news, this has harmful potential.
TikTokcan add fact checkers thatmonitorvideos gaining attention. This would not end fake news all together, but it would slow the spread.
In order to stop fake and harmful news from spreading rapidly, social media sites need tomonitorthe information being shared more closely. If not, social media will only become a more dangerous place.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
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Opinion | Social media sites need to monitor fake news - UI The Daily Iowan
- [Webinar] #FreeSpeech: Perspectives from the UK and the US on Social Media Liability for Fake News, Damaging Content and Censorship - July 29th, 9:00... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Wake up, America; discount the fake news - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
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- Fake news of Rafale crash circulated in Pakistan using bogus handles - THE WEEK [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Election fake news weekly report to monitor New Zealand campaigning - RNZ [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Think more, share less: How to avoid falling for misinformation, disinformation and fake news - KING5.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- 'The Social Dilemma': Netflix's documentary and what it means for startups - EU-Startups [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- With the election campaign underway, can the law protect voters from fake news and conspiracy theories? - The Conversation AU [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Technology has given amazing possibilities of communication but fake news remains a concern - India TV News [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Man falsely accused of shooting deputies received threats - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Letter: No need to rely on fake news and ignore good Trump news - Thehour.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Conspiracy mentality linked to the acceptance of fake news about science - PsyPost [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- We're launching an election-season ad campaign to fight fake news, and we need your help - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Investigative journalist will address 'fake news' in virtual talk - Ripon Commonwealth Press [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Misinformation Is Hyperlocal. Attempts to Counter It Should Be, Too. - Foreign Policy [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Beware of Fake News On City Council Races - Odessa American [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- 'Manipulated and fake': NTA rubbishes news claiming topper in ST category was given wrong 'failed' result in NEET - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- REFILE-'Not fake news:' COVID-19 cases surge in Wisconsin ahead of Trump campaign rally - Reuters [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Trump duped by fake news story of Twitter going down to protect Biden - Global News [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Poor numerical literacy linked to greater susceptibility to Covid-19 fake news - The Guardian [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
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- The steady growth of unreliable news sites is an addition to the list of terrible things that happened in 2020 - Digital Information World [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Problem posed by disinformation online increasingly serious, says BBC boss - The Independent [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
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- A Tale as old as Time: Proliferation of 'fake news' may have even preceded the birth of Christ | Recto Mercene - Business Mirror [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
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- Conservative Twitter users dominate the discussion of fake news about the coronavirus, study finds - PsyPost [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Fake News Buster: Vaccines have only helped to save lives - Bangalore Mirror [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Covid fake news can be fatal, govts need to step in: Study - The Tribune India [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
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- DNA exclusive: Prakash Javadekar`s first reaction on fake news - Zee News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
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- TikTok adding new features to stop fake news and misinformation spreading - Dexerto [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- DNA exclusive: Anurag Thakur`s first reaction on fake news - Zee News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Opinion: Fake news, pandemic, evolving job market a liberal education is needed more than ever - Calgary Herald [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
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- LIVING IN THE AGE OF FAKE NEWS - DAWN.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Fake news? No, it really is Macquarie Dictionarys word of the decade - Sydney Morning Herald [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Journalist identities hijacked to spread fake news - Axios [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Verified Twitter Users Shared an All-Time-High Amount of Fake News in 2020 - PCMag [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Totally Not Fake News: The Great Debate Within the Houston Texans Front Office - Battle Red Blog [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
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- Min cautions against fake news after 'assault' - The Shillong Times [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Opinion | Dont Go Down the Rabbit Hole - The New York Times [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Shoeless sprinters, fake news and universal healthcare: Finland in the world press - Helsinki Times [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]