When lies travel faster than truth, who pays the price? Increasingly, it’s the public.
In today’s world almost everyone is using social media as a means of communication. Social media is not only a platform but also a feature in which misinformation spreads. Its time they have to be held accountable for the damage they cause.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), misinformation is the false, misleading or inaccurate information shared without the intent to cause harm. Unfortunately, most people does may not tell the authenticity of information especially those posted across social media platforms, including the viral videos which have inaccurate facts about a particular event and live streams.
Comments also can act as misinformation especially if shared wrongly and not forgetting the advertisements which have misleading claims or content about a particular situations or people. When we look closely the unchecked spread of false misinformation has proven deadly.
During the COVID 19 pandemic where lives were not only lost but also there were sorts of myths and misconceptions about the vaccines and treatments leading to more speculations and lies and this was due to the misinformation at that time.
Critiques argue that holding platforms accountable would threaten freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech is not freedom from responsibility. Social media platforms should not fuel misinformation that harms, incites violence or crimes and destabilizes democracies rather a need for a new legal framework one that acknowledges the responsible use of social media in shaping public discourse.
The government should consider a better way of fighting misinformation and enforcing existing regulations, rather that limiting free expression.
At the end of the day ,truth matters. As Mark Twain said” A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.’’
