Fake news is written usually to mislead workplace, entity, or person, and or gain financially or politically, often using sensationalist, dishonest, or outright fabricated headlines to increase readership. Fake news undermines serious media coverage and makes it harder for journalists to hide significant news stories. Few examples of fake news are Click bait, Propaganda, parody, Sloppy journalism, Misleading headings, Biased or slanted news. When identifying a source of data, one must check out many attributes, including but not limited to the content of the e-mail and social media engagements. Specifically, the language is usually more inflammatory in fake news than real articles, partially because the aim is to confuse and generate clicks. Fake news has the tendency to become viral among the general public. With the presence of social media platforms like Twitter, it becomes easier for false information to diffuse quickly. Fake news has gained much popularity with various media outlets and platforms.
Why it’s important to fight against fake news
The new coronavirus disease outbreak has already upended human life on a scale not seen in modern times. And the widespread dissemination of misinformation on social media is doing nothing but exacerbating human sufferings by creating a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about the current issues. People are regularly seeking out updates and other information related to the pandemic and the virus from social media. But unfortunately, social media are flowing with fake news regarding conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, raising serious questions about the way people are informed. In this extraordinary time, media has its most important role to play to combat misinformation. But ignoring the sensitivity of the situation, some media have been recklessly circulating their contents without proper fact-checking and consulting reliable sources, helping spread misinformation. The media supposed to the aware public with factual news are much more concerned about earning money, disseminating news items that have catchy headlines but in reality, they are nothing but fake news. Fake news contents related to virus spread immensely fast. Fake news or contents do no good to society, specifically during such a situation of the pandemic as they may mislead the audience, pose a different kind of threat, seriously traumatize people and create terrors among the people. Reportedly, believing fake news about COVID-19 can lead some people to anxiety, stress, and even depression. During the crisis, disseminating fake news content can circulate surprisingly. These days, fake content are spreading as fast as the virus itself.
For Example
More cases of fake news have been prevailing in India during this lockdown period, leading the police to arrest people across the country. In Mizoram, the police arrested about 15 people for spreading fake circulars asking people to stay outside the state to return back to their homes. In Odisha, fake news circulated through WhatsApp claimed that a person who came from outside the state was infected. The matter was found to be false after the police conducted an investigation.
Media Role
Mainstream media should act more responsibly as people tend to check mainstream media for verification if they come across any sensitive news from the unpopular marginal media. Governments should promote news literacy and powerful professional journalism in their societies. The news industry must provide high-quality journalism so as to create a charitable trust and proper fake news and disinformation without legitimizing them. Technology companies should invest in tools that identify fake news, reduce financial incentives for those that take advantage of disinformation, and improve online accountability. Educational institutions should make informing people about news literacy a high priority. Finally, individuals should follow a diversity of story sources, and be skeptical of what they read and watch.
By Mehak Chaturvedi
Street Paradise 
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