National Rape Day – Fake news and its consequences on social media
As every year in April, disturbing videos have been circulating on TikTok in recent days promoting the so-called “National Rape Day” on April 24th .
Note: The call for “National Rape Day” first appeared in the USA in April 2021 and spread via TikTok. It is believed to be a tasteless joke to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. The campaign aims to raise awareness of sexual assault and educate people about how rape can be prevented. Since then, the topic has resurfaced every year on social media platforms. Disgusting videos claim that men will be allowed to grope, molest and even rape women and girls on April 24th. And without consequences, everything was legal on that day and there were no threats of punishment. This is of course wrong – sexual violence is punishable every day.
These videos falsely claimed that it was a day to legitimize attacks against young girls. However, this false report was quickly identified as a hoax, a phenomenon that already caused unrest in 2021 and was extensively refuted.
The topic was taken up and reported on in various international fact checks (e.g. HERE ). Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to have been enough, as the old hoax is currently being picked up and spread again by many TikTok users.
There are remnants of this on Facebook ( HERE ).
The power of misinformation
Horror chain letters like “National Rape Day” are not harmless jokes, but cause real harm by stoking fear and mistrust. They provoke phantom discussions - discussions about topics that have no basis in reality - and thus distract from real problems. The history of horror clowns and the “ Momo ” phenomenon show how such false reports can cause uncertainty and confusion. It is important that these message chains are broken and stop spreading.
Responsibility of platforms and users
TikTok and other social media have a great responsibility to control and review such content. Users also have to critically question the information they find online. Parents and educational institutions play an important role in making young people aware of the dangers of misinformation and encouraging them to always consult reliable sources.
“National Rape Day”: What really matters
It is important that parents and schools do not fall for these videos and reinforce or manifest them in any form. Spreading false information about sexual assault can have unpleasant consequences on a variety of levels. Therefore, it is important that everyone does their part to stop these types of hoaxes from spreading further.
This is a very sensitive topic that requires clarification. On the one hand, young people must not be unsettled by horror chain letters. At the same time, there is also the issue of sexual violence. Victims of sexual violence must be taken seriously and supported. Phantom discussions or even fake videos about alleged abuse have no place here!
The spread of hoaxes related to sexual violence can lead to people no longer taking these topics seriously or even inventing cases of abuse themselves in order to gain publicity as part of the hoax. It is therefore important to quickly debunk this form of misinformation and raise awareness of the importance of using reliable sources.
questions and answers
Q: How do I recognize an online hoax?
A: Always check the source of a message. Look for reliable fact checks and be skeptical of sensational or unreliable claims.
Q: What should I do if I uncover a hoax?
A: Do not share the hoax. Instead, inform others that it is false information and report the content on the platform.
Q: How can I protect children from such hoaxes?
A: Talk openly about the risks and teach how to critically question information. Encourage the use of trusted and secure online sources.
Q: Why are social media a breeding ground for hoaxes?
A: The rapid spread and low level of scrutiny of content on social media makes it easier for misinformation to spread. Users often share content without questioning its veracity.
Ultimately, it is important that each individual contributes to stopping the spread of misinformation and creating critical awareness when dealing with digital content. This is the only way we can make digital media a safe and trustworthy place of information.
Mimikama online webinar tip!
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Speaker: Andre Wolf
When: May 7th, 2024, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: €0 for Mimikama AmbassadorPLUS supporters/€30 for all non-Mimikama AmbassadorPLUS supporters
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 )