COMMENT | If in doubt, check it out – or else, don’t share

COMMENT | There is no easy way to stem the unceasing flow of falsehoods. But we need to start somewhere – like thinking about our social media practice and paying more attention to accuracy before we share ‘contents’.

While most of us do not set out to spread misinformation, we do unthinkingly click ‘share’ because it felt ‘right’ and ‘true’ when we read it.

As a former journalist, I have learnt that if something sounds too good to be true, it seldom is - more so from what we read daily on our social media feeds.

Here’s what’s often overlooked: social media algorithms from our browsing history are optimised for social engagement with the like-minded rather than for establishing the ‘truth’. Hence, the echo chambers on social media.

Next, where change in social media practice could occur is with the younger generation, some of whom may grow up to be social media influencers.

Case studies in other countries have well established a need to teach students to be smarter and more discriminating in how they use social media to engage with the world.

Just as teaching good hygiene reduces the risk of contracting diseases, teaching digital media literacy will better prepare young minds to decipher what is reliable or unreliable news, what is true or false in what they see on their screen.

Media literacy may not be the ...