The Russian invasion of Ukraine has unleashed a wave of falsehoods on social media and the airwaves. In a new series of Radio 4 podcasts, The War Against Truth, BBC reporter Marianna Spring, who follows the stories of people caught up in disinformation – gives some advice on how to avoid it.
She says that, since the start of the war, her inbox has been flooded with messages from people telling her about hoax videos on their social media feeds and troll accounts promoting conspiracy theories.
Spring has listed several methods that help readers spot bad information – and stop its spread?
1. Beware of old and misleading videos
There are very real, disturbing videos being shared about what is happening on the ground in Ukraine. But there is also footage from old conflicts that is going viral. Often people are sharing it because they are shocked – or even trying to help. But this is just adding to the chaos.
The best way to figure out whether a video is real or not is to look for clues – like the weather, road signs, the languages people speak.
Videos of the Russian invasion of Crimea and the explosion in Beirut in 2020 have been widely shared, claiming to be from the current conflict.
Using Google Maps, you can figure out if the video is actually from where it claims to be. And using reverse image searches – available from a number of websites – you can see if the same video or image has been shared online before. This is a sign that it has been recycled from a previous event.
2. Who is sharing it – and why?
It's important to consider who shared a post in the first place. Can you verify who they are – and are they a trusted source?
Those who have posted misleading videos sometimes seek likes and shares. It’s a troubling time – and posts about what’s happening in Ukraine are likely to continue. Others are spreading false claims to push certain narratives – to advance their own political agendas or to sow doubt and confusion.
Some young people have told me about pro-Russian accounts arguing with Ukrainians, suggesting without any evidence that the war is "staged" or that Ukraine is bombing its territory.
3. Stop before you share.
Much of what is on social media about war is scary. It causes a reaction – and that means people sometimes share posts before checking if they are true. Misinformation spreads because it plays on our emotions and prejudices.
(Full article from BBC)