“Why is misinformation becoming so prominent in times like this? Is War itself not chaotic enough? Why put more fuel to the fire when you can use it for good and spread awareness instead? I just don’t get it,” Jacob, a young executive working in Kuala Lumpur, tells Player.me.
Rhea, another millennial from KL, is too shocked at the barrage of misinformation appearing on her social timelines.
“It is unbelievable for individuals to have the mindset to sit down, whip out their cellular devices, write down lies and rumours, and proceed to post on the Internet for attention when there are victims pledging for help and mercy in these chaotic times,” she tells Player.me.
Sentiments expressed by Rhea, Jacob, and several other youth Player.me spoke to reflect the sad state of affairs at social networking platforms, which are being (Mis)used for spreading fake news, misinformation, hate, and propaganda as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues. Moreover, it also exposes the fragility of social networking platforms, which have long struggled to tame these problems, especially during a live crisis.
It is widely understood that misinformation has become a pervasive and unfortunately a powerful tool to shape up public perceptions of complex issues. Amid this ongoing and protracted conflict, a barrage of false images, memes, videos, and posts, many of which originate from within the region itself, is creating a fog of war that is making it increasingly challenging to discern what is real. This flood of misinformation is having profound and far-reaching implications, not just for the citizens directly affected by the conflict but for the global public as well.
The Effect of Misinformation on the Israel-Hamas Conflict
The ongoing and volatile battle has created fertile ground for conspiracy theories and the spread of false information within the region. Tech platforms, which have been diminished by waves of layoffs, are struggling to effectively police falsehoods, disinformation, and hate speech online.
This one analysis from experts from Reuters showcases the dire situation. Researchers stepped in to scrutinize a viral video that claimed to bear witness to the terrified reactions of the innocents running away from the warzone but it was not true. They researched the video further, and it showed that it was not where the author posted it to be.
“This video supposedly shows festival goers running for their lives during an attack by Hamas. But it’s not true.”
“In the video, we see identifiable features that can help us place it on a map. Like this water slide that matches the slide at Meymadion Park, at the edge of HaYarkon Park, proving this video pre-dates the desert attack and was filmed in Tel Aviv, not the Negev Desert,” said the report.
Social Media Misinformation is a Bane in Chaotic Times
Marwa Fatafta, a policy analyst at Al Shabaka, a Palestinian think tank, warns of the alarming consequences of the current situation. She states, “There’s a lot of information being shared that is not verified, a lot of calls to violence and dehumanisation. And all this is fanning the flames for further massacres [Of Palestinians]”.
Most of the shared media derive from social media platforms, and they are the major reason for the cause of misinformation that led to the current situation of disinformation.
X (Former Twitter)
– X has faced criticism for its handling of misinformation during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The platform failed to effectively combat a surge of fake posts, including graphic content, often flagged as misleading. Thousands of fake accounts spread pro-Hamas disinformation, and X’s crowd-sourced fact-checking function struggled to keep up. European officials raised concerns about the platform hosting misinformation and potentially violating content moderation laws, while disinformation received more engagement on X than other social media platforms, making it a significant issue during the conflict.
TikTok
– During the Israel-Hamas conflict, TikTok implemented several safety measures, including the removal of 500,000 videos and the suspension of 8,000 livestreams. They established a command centre, improved content detection software, and increased Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators to combat graphic and violent content. TikTok emphasised a zero-tolerance policy against incitement to violence and hateful ideologies. These actions followed a warning from the EU to protect young users from violent and extremist content, although misinformation remained a challenge on the platform.
COVID Is Another Example of Chaotic Time
– During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media platforms took several actions to combat misinformation. Facebook and Instagram removed and flagged posts, Twitter labelled misleading tweets, and many platforms relied on artificial intelligence for content monitoring. Psychologists suggested stronger partnerships with social media platforms to counter misinformation effectively. However, the responses lacked clarity and transparency, with varying approaches to addressing misinformation. This underscores the need for consistent standards across platforms to combat COVID-19 misinformation more cohesively.
What Can Social Media Platforms Do Better?
Social Media platforms such as X, TikTok, and Facebook, can improve in various areas to remove content and posts about misinformation. They should be made aware of the danger caused by misinformation and take action to make necessary changes towards the platform to encourage transparency and honesty amongst users of the platform.
One of which is moderating the posts on the platform more frequently and vigorously. Content moderators and Cybersecurity experts are encouraged to take action on any suspicious postings on the platform. It can be a daunting task during a difficult time such as an ongoing conflict but it is also the most vulnerable state for confusion, chaos, and false information consumption.
Within the suspicious postings, experienced moderators and cybersecurity experts should also pay attention to the language used within the postings. As social media users are diverse and can be used internationally, users are allowed to post under their own preferred language which can be mistranslated if it is not moderated correctly. Translators should be involved in this matter to ensure the translated content is accurate for readers and prevent any misunderstandings due to misinterpretation.
Another step towards clearing misinformation is setting up stricter rules and regulations regarding the content of every user post. It should result in a punishment such as a permanent ban or account removal if the user refuses to comply with the rules and regulations stated by the platform for fair use and accurate news postings.
Conclusion
Widespread and uncontrolled misinformation amid the Israel-Gaza conflict is a grave concern, potentially inciting violence and obstructing peace. It’s vital to critically assess information and promote responsible social media use. Misinformation and fake news/videos/images in such a volatile conflict can have dire consequences, demanding serious attention. It’s also our duty to stop misinformation spread by verifying sources and facts and avoiding sharing based on personal biases. Public and platform efforts together can encourage transparent news reporting and reduce the harm of fake news, fostering a more informed society.
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