10 Reasons Why You Should Check Facebook Rumors Before Sharing Them!
Viral Facebook rumors are one of the most widespread phenomena on the social network.
Passed from user to user, a variety of rumors emerge every day. But even though many of these stories seem harmless and/or many Facebook users share them “one too many times,” many don’t realize that they lies and insecurities .
Here are the “10 Reasons Why You Should Check Facebook Rumors Before Passing Them”
False rumors to post or spread...
1. Posting or spreading false rumors means that social networks are becoming less and less suitable for spreading real facts.
Of all the reasons to be sure that the information being disseminated is accurate, this is – in our opinion – the most important and universally valid.
Who doesn't know Aesop's fable about the “Boy Who Cried Wolf”? This is exactly the same principle. Every time someone distributes supposedly important and real information to their Facebook friends, the extent to which such messages are reacted to decreases, even if they are actually true - the “oh-that-again effect” !
Sites like Facebook offer fantastic opportunities to make information available to the masses and harness the “power” of viral spread. We can do positive things like spread warnings, send out news and information, raise money, and many other great things. But we can only do this effectively if the information we spread is true, or we can assume THAT it is true.
Every time false information is spread, we are limited in terms of the possibilities described. It is the responsibility of every Facebook user to ensure that the information they share with their friends is true.
If the user does not do this, he not only reduces the quality of his own Facebook experience, but also that of all other Facebook users. We should all try to drastically limit misinformation and unfounded rumors and make Facebook an effective and even valuable communication and information platform.
A “social network” in the true sense. Remember: Most of the rumors circulating can be checked for truth in minutes with a simple Google search or a search on relevant hoax information sites like ours.
Take your time, use your common sense and, if in doubt, ask other people (or us, for example). This will not only help you, but also everyone else who uses Facebook.
2. 9 out of 10 rumors we observe on Facebook are either totally false or at least (deliberately) inaccurate.
Of all the different Facebook images, headlines, messages, and other conversations reported to us, 90% are either too inaccurate to be shared, or are just plain wrong.
3. Posting or spreading false rumors creates more false rumors!
Spreading false rumors creates more false rumors!
If false rumors didn't have the success they are currently having, there would be significantly fewer copycats (“free riders”).
Spreading these rumors only ensures that new rumors arise more and more quickly.
If a hoaxer sees that “his” hoax works, he will probably start another similar one.
4. Posting or spreading false rumors often only aims to harm public figures...
Posting false rumors often only aims to discredit public figures or companies.
Many of the rumors are pure propaganda, and by spreading them you keep them going. By spreading these rumors, you help the people who started them - often out of pure self-interest (damaging competitors, etc.).
5. Posting or spreading false rumors can help scammers!
Facebook scammers love when false rumors go viral because it's easier for them to attract victims when many people are looking for the same information.
When viral rumors are circulating, scammers can set up websites that lead users into a variety of traps - from dubious subscriptions to Trojans that can be caught while surfing past.
6. Posting or spreading false rumors can promote hate speech against certain groups and even racism!
Posting false rumors can promote hate speech against certain groups and even racism!
7. Posting or spreading false rumors can make yourself look extremely stupid.
Suppose a Facebook user makes one of the rumors his status report: Minutes later, one of his contacts posts an informative link to a source that exposes the status report as a hoax, scam, untruth, etc.
The person affected appears to be an “idiot” at least until he realizes what has happened and quickly deletes his status.
8. Posting or spreading false rumors can cause unnecessary panic among Facebook users.
Some of the most “successful” rumors use pessimistic, highly emotional or panic-inducing topics (hackers, for example) as a driving force for their “success”.
However, almost all of these lurid stories are factually incorrect or at least grossly exaggerated. They only cause absolutely unnecessary uncertainty and even panic, even though some of them are obviously wrong and can often be easily refuted. [
9. Posting or spreading false rumors often results in photos of people being taken without their consent...
Posting false rumors often results in photos of people being used without their consent or “without the necessary rights,” which can cause a lot of trouble and have unpleasant legal consequences.
There is often a feeling that shared photos have no owner. And if so, the owner will “of course” never see it. A fallacy! There are cases where images have been used without the owner's consent and this has had far-reaching consequences.
Example: “The baby waiting for heart surgery, for which Facebook supposedly donates money per like or share.” Julie Chambers, the mother of Zoe, the child who actually had a heart in 2007 -Surgery is more than angry, indignant and, above all, sad when she sees that the picture is still being shared today (2013!). Her daughter died as a result of the operation in 2008. We reported on it
10. Posting or spreading false rumors can cause personal harm to innocent people.
Rumors that make people identifiable by providing their name, address or photos have the potential to cause serious and lasting damage to the reputation of the person concerned.
This may happen to the point where even the safety of the person concerned is at risk.
These rumors can denounce innocent people and make their lives very difficult.
Prominent evidence of this is the near-lynch mob in Emden in May 2012. Example: “Person
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 )