The news came as a shock: “Kerstin Ott died in 2023,” read one website on August 30th. The virtual condolences echoed through social networks, but it was all based on a lie. The pop singer Kerstin Ott is alive and well in the spotlight and has already made clear the untruth surrounding her death. But how could this misinformation come about and why do such false death reports keep finding their way into the digital world?
The origin of untruth
On the said date, a website called http://arhitekti.hr an article spreading the sad news of Kerstin Ott's death.
The website claimed to be a Croatian architecture blog, but a look behind the scenes quickly exposed the deception. The author of the article, supposedly Marko Petrović, appeared in a photo, but a reverse image search revealed the true identity: Roman Panov, a financial expert, not an architect. Like the website, the content of the article was a collection of untruths and half-truths, without any reference to the alleged circumstances of the death.
The lack of substantial evidence
The article did not mention the time or circumstances of Kerstin Ott's supposed death. The only “evidence” was that the “tragic news” spread online on January 12, 2023. But Kerstin Ott appeared at numerous events after this date, including the “NDR Talk Show” in . The website offered no credible sources and its claim relied solely on the spread of hearsay.
The dark side of digital fame
False death reports are not new in the digital age. The distribution of such messages is often aimed at driving traffic to specific websites in order to make money through advertisements. And that seems to have been the case here too. With the false death report about Kerstin Ott, the website attracted many visitors, which not only increased advertising revenue, but also offered the opportunity to distribute malicious software via download links.
A scary conclusion
The episode about Kerstin Ott once again reveals the dark side of the digital age. While we live in a world where information is just a click away, this also poses the risk of spreading false news. This incident serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant and verify sources before believing or sharing such sensitive information. The digital world is both a blessing and a curse, and it is up to us to use it responsibly.
Do you always want to be up to date? Then sign up for our Mimikama newsletter and find out more about our media education offerings . Stay safe and informed in the digital world!
Also read: Warning: “Your daughter has critically injured a mother and her child in a traffic accident”
Source:
DPA
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 )