Amy Hodgetts, copywriter at digital marketing agency, Mediaworks, details the effect of so-called ‘fake news’, sharing misinformation on social media, and the impact it has on the medical industry.
In recent years, the phrase ‘fake news’ has become part of the common lexicon. From false accusations to hoax stories, these tales have enough shock value to make people click the share button and send it on to many more eyes. And therein lies the problem: people share a story from the headline and don’t often read article in full, much less critically look at its sources and studies. This lack of context can make it incredibly easy to present fiction as facts.
For example, ShareChecklist1 cites a recent viral video showing a crowd of people fighting. The video description claimed it showed extremists rioting in Birmingham; in fact, it was a video of Swedish football fans fighting. The website advises people to use the S.H.A.R.E checklist before liking, commenting or sharing online. The S.H.A.R.E checklist is designed to ensure that people are not contributing to the spread of harmful content:
S Source: Make sure that the story is written by a trusted source with a reputation for accuracy. If it’s from an unfamiliar organisation, check for a website’s ‘About’ section to learn more
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