Social significance of countering misinformation

The advancement of technology around the world and the widespread spread of social media have made our lives easier, and there has been a mobility in obtaining and spreading information. However, along with this convenience, a big challenge has also arisen - propaganda. Once the only source of information was newspapers, radio, or television, where information was provided through verification and selection. But now anyone can post any news or information on social media, which quickly reaches a large number of people. As a result, even if any information is not correct, it can cause confusion among a large number of people. Propaganda can affect our personal lives, family relationships, social bonds and even the entire society. Raising awareness to prevent propaganda is very important, because propaganda is never confined to a specific boundary. Once any false information or misleading news is spread, it does not only harm a specific group; rather, it has a negative impact on the entire society. It becomes difficult for the common people to understand which information is true and which is false. And that is why propaganda can easily cause tension, panic and conflict among people.

Propaganda is often spread intentionally to harm a specific section or group of society. For example, propaganda in the field of religion, race, or politics can easily create mental and mutual hatred. When propaganda is directed at a specific group, it creates division and intolerance in society. This increases communal conflict, religious division, or ethnic hatred. Due to such propaganda, peace in society is destroyed and social bonds are weakened. Apart from this, the negative impact of propaganda can also be seen at the personal level. Spreading false information or rumors about personal life on social media is now a common occurrence. Spreading false propaganda against a person has an adverse effect on his mental and social life. Many times, due to propaganda, personal life is disrupted and the victim is mentally damaged. As a result, not only is a person's personal life damaged, but also there is a lack of trust and confidence in society.

The most important thing to avoid the bad effects of propaganda is awareness. Even if an aware person is a victim of propaganda, he is not easily misled. One should develop the habit of verifying the truth of information. If the information is not true or cannot be verified, one should refrain from it. The help of various reliable sources or media can be taken to verify information. For example, if any information is first published on social media, it can be verified whether it was published in a reliable media. Education and awareness are the biggest tools in preventing propaganda. Education teaches people to understand the difference between truth and falsehood. In a well-educated society, propaganda cannot easily have an impact. Because educated people verify information on their own and learn to distrust false information. If media literacy, that is, awareness about the media, is included as part of education, students will learn to understand the importance of verifying information from an early age.

Although it is easy to get information through the Internet these days, the habit of verifying information has not yet been developed. Many people still assume that any information found on the Internet is true. In this regard, in addition to making social media and information technology users aware, technology companies must also take responsibility. Social media should identify suspicious news or rumors and remove them quickly. Sometimes social media authorities take some measures to prevent propaganda. However, it needs to be strengthened further. There is a need for more advanced methods to prevent propaganda from a technical perspective. The media should also play a role in preventing propaganda. The information published in the media creates trust among people. The importance of reliable media in preventing propaganda is immense. If any wrong or false information is published in the media, it spreads quickly among people and creates confusion. Therefore, the media should properly verify the information and publish it. In addition, the general public should also be made aware of the correct use of the media. People should be taught which news is credible and which is not.

Legal systems can also play an important role in preventing propaganda. In many countries, special laws have been enacted to prevent the spread of false information or propaganda. If strict punishment is provided for those who spread propaganda, no one will want to engage in propaganda easily. At the same time, in addition to preventing propaganda through legal means, emphasis should also be placed on social awareness. Personal responsibility is also an important factor in preventing propaganda. Every person must verify information on their own responsibility. If any information is shared with others without verifying it, it quickly becomes large. Therefore, it is very important to verify it before anyone shares any information on social media or at the personal level. If not verified consciously, misinformation can be spread in society and confusion can be created. Due to the widespread use of digital technology in the current world, it is necessary to increase the use of technology to prevent propaganda. Using artificial intelligence or AI technology, false or misleading information can be automatically identified and removed on social media. This may make it possible to slow down the pace of propaganda.

It is necessary to take coordinated initiatives at both the government and private levels to prevent misinformation. The general public can be made aware by running campaigns on social media and the media. In addition, the government and local administration can take up various awareness programs. The most important thing to prevent misinformation is to create awareness among the general public. Everyone should develop the habit of verifying information and resisting false information. On the one hand, this is good for the society, and it also plays a very effective role in maintaining peace and stability in the society.

Written By: Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan

Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan, a Dhaka, Bangladesh-based independent columnist and freelance journalist.

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