The frequency of fake news amid covid 19 has surpassed. As India battles the deadly coronavirus outbreak, fake news infodemic is spreading like wildfire. We are battling on outbreak of misinformation as well. Fake news means information without any facts , sources or quotes. (Story Itself made, purpose can be lack of sheer knowledge or mischievousness.) Fake news and malicious messages on social media has shown rise right after the announcement Janta Curfew in the country.
A major chunk of fake news circulates on Whatsapp. The most common fake news which circulates on Whatsapp these days is related to health advice, corona can spread through sole of shoes and lot more ,everyday there is something new cure to the virus by our whatsapp experts. According to survey conducted 50-80% of fake news circulates on social media. It becomes clear that people are aware of the presence of fake news, but still are reliable on social media for news.
Facebook is working with more than 60 fact checking websites which have been reviewing content over 50 languages. If the fact checkers flag a piece of fake information it will restrict its distribution ,till now 40 million posts related to covid 19 have been shown displayed warnings. In Uttar Pradesh Police 40 FIRs have been lodged for spreading fake news. A total of 123 social media accounts have been spanned. Tough action would been taken against those posting inflamtory material on social media ,as hate speech ,rumors circulates most on them.
With the data being checked most number of false and misleading videos circulated were about 35%, significant number of text message circulated were 29.4% ( shared with fake cures), quotations-inspirational messages by celebrities to create an influence on people were 29.4 images , audio clips with false content 2.2%. A boom study said that 178 fact checks information was carried out between April to May.
According to a study 35 % of fake and misleading claims were made targeting Muslims. By the end of march, the number of fake stories increased from 15 in the week beginning march to 33 by the ending week of march 30,with Tablighi Jammat event at Nizamudin markaz in Delhi. Big social media forms are doing their bit fighting fake news and creating a discourse that is information .One of these initiative is a weekly programme that aims to demystify government rule and policies.
”Do not believe everything you read on the internet just because there is picture quote next to it”. We must adhere to this quote by Abraham Lincoln and not blindily follow everything that’s available on the internet.
Various fact checking website
Boom live: Boom live is a fact checking website. Website aims to fight misinformation and make the internet safer. BOOM actively fact checks range from political, social, communal and health & medicine to products and services and even history. Boom even have Whatsapp helpline number.
https://www.boomlive.in/fact-file/fake-news-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-a-boom-study-8008
Alt News: I personally rely on alt news. It’s my first preference whenever misinformation is circulated on social media. This website by far provides the news with full authentication, even provides background history to news and present everything in a proper and detailed manner. There is full transparency. It open’s doors for all fake news. https://www.altnews.in/
PIB FACT CHECKING WEBSITE : Press Information Bureau is the nodal agency of government of India. it disseminates information to print and electronic media. The government respondes to messages sent by e-mail to the portal at the earliest on the facts related to the virus.https://pib.gov.in/factcheck.aspx
Conclusion: well the spread of fake news will continue for years to come, but together we can break the chain by not forwarding one forward to another. We are fighting the virus together, together we can also fight by not spreading fake news. Lets just not beleive anything or everything available on internet is true. one must double check the facts before passing it on. It has also been found that many people have been affected emotionally with the spread of fake news.
BY: MEHAK TANEJA (1860991024)
Street Paradise 
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