Fake News: New Age Disease

What is a Fake News: Basically in laymen language, it is a kind of information that is fully or partially false. So, there are two kinds of Fake news – the first one is the news that isn’t true, so this news is completely false from the beginning. It has no roots and is spread in public without having any basis. The second one is the partially false news, so this news is the segments of information that is false and this part of news creates violence and chaos in public.

It is like a filthy insect which only spread dirt and this insect is not only the problem of our country, it exists worldwide. If we compare to countries like China, where due fake news companies are threatened to pay money to prevent or stop negative coverage or Italy, was due a photo on twitter government thought that a minister was doing corruption but the news and photo both were fake. In India, fake news is used as a tool for entertainment and spreading rumours. Various incidents prove the previous statement-

1. When the new 2000 rupee note was launched, it was said that it contains a chip inside it and it can be tracked easily.

2. Due to rumours spread by two boys in Dadri village of a man saying that he was storing beef in his freezer resulted in the lynching of that man. The man was innocent naming Mohd.Akhlaq.

3. In Hyderabad, a boy spread a rumour that a hotel is serving dog meat. This resulted in losses and defamation charge for the owner.

India has around 200 million active Whatsapp users. Whatsapp which is a good medium for spreading rumours. It has such a great influence that even a literate man believes in these rumours. Mainly some people are responsible for this as they use a part of the video, manipulate it, add their suggestions, use sentimental lines and spread them. The range of these fake news is such large that it uses every sought of medium to get the false news spread. Mediums like Social Media and electronic media are a great source of this man-made disease.

Rajya Sabha also showed concern regarding the fake news. one of the MPs of Rajya Sabha Mr. Digvijay Singh said that studies show that fake news is more dangerous than terrorism and I’m very much affirmation with the statement of Mr. Singh because we all know that in past years there are various incidents where on the basis of these fake news numbers of people were lynched or killed. This is a crime that needs to be monitored and stabilized. Some action should be taken by the legislators to cure this disease of the roots. Although the greatest medium of fake news that is Whatsapp has taken an initiative to create a check on fake news. Whatsapp launched a platform naming Checkpoint Tipline where Whatsapp users can submit uncertain information and rumors they have received. The complaint can be submitted with on Checkpoint Tipline Whatsapp number – 9643-000-888.

Initiatives are being taken is a piece of good news and it might help more or less but it’s a public responsibility of all of us to see and differentiate what is true and what is false.

Submitted by –

Bibhanshu Mishra

Student Reporter, INBA.

Category – Socio-Political report.