‘Sa True Lang:’ How to Bust Fake News

By Matias John Mercado, The Spark
First published on The Spark Facebook Page on April 24, 2022

There was once a weird time in the height of the pandemic when some people flocked to the market and sidewalk stands to frantically buy bunches of bananas to the point of near shortage. The suspect? An unverified news claiming that the fruit “can” supposedly cure COVID-19. The information was then clarified and rectified but not before it spread like wildfire and caused a banana-shopping frenzy.

In this digitized era where virtually everything is accessible at the tip of our fingers and where information spreads like the speed of light, it is more than essential to be equipped with the right tools and proper education on detecting whether a piece of news is truthful or false. In this brief article, let us learn the ways how we can avoid falling victim to attempts at misinformation online.

First: Internal Cleansing

The first thing that we need to check is our own biases. More often than not, we tend to unsuspectingly accept claims or information that we ourselves firmly hold as the truth. Before anything else, there must be an internal cleansing of oneself. Biases should be flushed out of our minds for us to clearly see if the information is true or not. We must open ourselves to the possibility that the “truth” we used to believe was true might need further investigation and might be shaped to a different truth. In fact-checking, we should prepare ourselves as blank canvases — free from influence and biases, and only prepared to accept the one truth supported by facts and credible sources.

Second: Examining the Author and Sources

News posted on social media must be scrutinized based on its author and source. We must put weight on the possibility that the source or the author might be from one party with a specific goal or agenda. The news itself should be written and showcased solely as factual information without the intent to mislead people.

Third: Checking the Date

Checking the date when the news was posted is also vital. Reposting or sharing posts has been a habit of a lot of people recently. Whenever they see something ear-twitching or eye-catching, they often forget to check if it is old news or a new one, resulting in the spreading of misleading or fake news. It is very important that we verify the actual date of when the news was posted to make sure that it is information about the current events and not just an iteration.

Fourth: Searching Further, Reading Beyond

Looking for supporting sources to examine if factual information is supported by credible figures or experts is a wise 21st-century person’s errand. For news about the ongoing pandemic, it will provide certainty if we cross-reference any information being peddled as true with other reliable sources like the DOH and WHO. Sometimes, the media intentionally uses headlines that could hook our interest. That is why it is important that we read beyond the headlines.

These are just some of the helpful tips that you can use to equip yourself against misinformation. In the world of social media, where lies and facades are rampant, we may not be able to eradicate these stains completely but with proper knowledge and through educating oneself and others, winning the war on misinformation can remain a possibility.