Hardly a day goes by without being confronted with fake news. According to a representative survey by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, almost a third of Germans even have a penchant for conspiracy theories. The statement “ There are secret powers that control the world ” was found to be correct by 11 percent of those surveyed; 19 percent thought it was probably correct.
Messenger services spread fake news and conspiracy theories
Individuals or groups are often made scapegoats and the online rumor mill is heated up. False news is spread via messenger services such as Telegram or WhatsApp and social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. This is where these statements and supposed messages, anonymous insinuations and attributions of guilt, sometimes find fanatical followers. Increasing verbal violence and hatred online lead to violence and vandalism in the worst cases.
Don't let fake news unsettle you. Check the accuracy of the information and only trust reputable sources . Especially in WhatsApp or Telegram groups, it is important to ask yourself questions in order to filter out the message as wrong or right. According to the German security authorities, the messenger service Telegram is increasingly developing into a medium for radicalization.
This way you can check news yourself and filter out fake news
- Pay attention to the source: For example, check the legal notice to see who is behind the content and where the message originated.
- Look for facts: Is what is claimed true? Is the information plausible?
- When it comes to images, ask yourself : Are the photos real? Is the connection between photo and text correct?
- Make sure it is up to date : Use a search engine and look for the news you want to check under “News”. This way you can check whether the statements are current or were already in circulation at an earlier point in time.
- Report problematic content: Content that contains fake news or conspiracy myths can be reported directly to the relevant online service so that it is deleted. If you make criminal statements, the police should be informed.
Show moral courage
Would you like to know how quickly you buy into a conspiracy myth and become radicalized? In our interactive video you can slip into the role of a group of students and test yourself. Do you show moral courage in a timely manner and can you prevent a crime?
Only with moral courage, consistent criminal prosecution and political education can it be possible to ban inhumane behavior from society. HERE you will find 5 tips on how you can show civil courage in the face of anti-Semitism.
You might also be interested in : “ Hate, agitation, fake news: EU decides on rules for digital services ”, “ Fake news – dangers and risks ”
Source : police advice
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

