Contesting Fake News in Post Truth Era: The Danger of Misusing Social Media

Image credit: Dave Granlund

Social media is a blessing for many. The virtual world offers opportunities to open new avenues for all people. It gives equal space for defining and expressing oneself. But these spaces have not only become personal space but public spaces, where community, business, friends, or organization space groups pursue their interests. In this situation, anything posted on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp becomes news that spreads like wildfire. 

I wrote this down as this unregulated use of social media by literate and illiterate, educated, and uneducated without knowing the pros and cons of the effect of social media seriously affecting society. Not a single person is immune from the misuse of social media. Recently, the vice president of India faced flak for raising the issue of security of the marginalized section in the society in the political circles, mainstream media, and social media. 

Mainstream media often bias offer more human character in this post-truth era as the news is filtered and great care is taken not to demean or sensationalize the issue though we have seen mainstream media going to the extreme to safeguard and push their interest. But they play this game well aware of the legality that is involved in the portrayal or reporting of sensationalizing issues. But despite the potentially disastrous ramifications of fake news in the context of the Inpui society, there is little or no awareness. A person, who has a social media account, and can read and write is qualified to be an admin in social media where rampant and unregulated news enters the system and in many cases threatens the social fabric of the society. It has become a trend where you can easily demean and assassinate a person or group's character. 

And here, different WhatsApp groups need serious inward contemplation, especially admins and the news reporter whoever it may be. Hearsay is not and cannot be news. And those who posed unfiltered and sensational news updates without verifying facts should be reprimanded. Admin without knowing the pros and cons of administering news should not be made to the control group. This unhealthy growth in a news-starved society like ours is very dangerous. According to Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 468 and 505, a person can be charged with someone for posting fake news. And according to Bombay High Court lawyer and cyber law expert, Prashant Mali individuals who have been defamed because of a fake news item can take criminal action under the IPC and other IT Act/cyber law. Even the admin of group (s) can also be charged for the same.

Public shaming without knowing anything just to stay in the news and feel the status of being a regular in social media is a dangerous trend that is being witnessed on a regular basis.  There is an urgent need to address the issue of unfiltered news in society. When an unregulated news feature enters public space, only a few can filter the news, the rest will just believe in what is being posted. So how and what shall we do? Here, some suggestions are put forward. 

1. Any person who posts fake news that harms and can harm the individual/ communal harmony of society should be reported to the cyber branch of Manipur police by the admin. The cyber branch in Manipur is effective and has booked a number of people in recent days for posting indecent images and fake news without any veracity.

2. The admin should regularly update the rules and regulations of the group. And if any new member is added. He or she should be informed of the rules individually.

3. If going to state legal mechanism is not effective, then Inpui society should devise a traditional method of bringing the culprit to book. This can be done by elders of the society and not by the admin as Inpui society takes public shaming seriously and the dignity of women is defended at all costs. Even in this age of technological revolution, we need to uphold such age-old traditions and if need be, new norms/regulation has to be formulated to suit the changing times.

4. Any person should not be put as admin, just because he or she is an active member doesn’t mean he or she is a rational person.

5. If you are new to the group, check the admins, if the admin is a person(s) without any credibility or a senior who can’t be responsible then leave the group, don’t linger on just because the person who added you is your acquaintance.

6. Just because you got a forwarded viral news or hearsay which fits to your brand of news. Think twice; think thrice on what effect it will have on you, on the person or society you are about to post. Your so-called concern for society can land you in serious trouble. If you are not sure of the authenticity ask any person who has such knowledge or in some cases, Google can be your guide. In sensitive cases, an image of a person should be blurred, and disclosing the name of the victim can land you in jail as well.

7. In any newsgroup, a person with a media/journalist background should run the group and not a random person. Even if certain news or images are shared in another group (s), it is the duty of the admin to verify the news before posting. Just because it is posted in other groups (s) doesn’t entitle the admin or members to do the same. Your foresight will save you in the long run.

Wish you a safe social media life.