BackOpinion | Fight fake news on Facebook
The findings were made public as part of the 2019 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust
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According to a new survey of internet users globally, social media companies have emerged as the top source of user distrust on the internet. Seventy-five per cent of those surveyed cited Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms for their lack of trust. Facebook was the most commonly cited source of fake news.
Seventy-seven per cent of the users on the social media platform said they came across fake news on the website, followed by 62% in case of Twitter and 74% for other social media users. Nine per cent of users on Facebook said they closed their accounts in the past year as a result of fake news.
The survey says that in India, 14% closed their accounts in the past year on account of fake news. The findings were made public as part of the 2019 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust.
It’s evident that despite Facebook’s efforts to curb the spread of misinformation, the perception among users of the platform in this context is not favourable. That said, measures such as disrupting economic incentives, building products to tackle the issue and helping users make informed decisions when they come across fake news have their own place.
But before blaming the company for the state of affairs, one must also consider the fact that it’s quite arguably the most popular social media platform in the world, and thus an easy target for those who wish to benefit from false propaganda or by swaying public opinion.
So, it is imperative that the user exercises discretion and does not accept at face value any news feed that may be contentious. In fact, the user can be proactive in fighting the menace. Cross-check and even flag it to the platform, if need be. Let’s care before we share.
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