Seven steps can stop bad information

We want to help our family and friends when we read some information going viral on the internet, especially COVID-19. Here are some advice to help us avoid the fishy site.

1 Stop and think

One thing you can do to halt misinformation is to simply stop and think. If you have any doubts, pause, and check it out further.

2 Check your source

Before you forward it on, ask some basic questions about where the information comes from.

3 Could it be fake?

It is possible to impersonate official accounts and authorities. If you can’t easily find the website information, it might be a hoax.

4 Unsure whether it’s true? Don’t share

Don’t forward things on “just in case” they might be true. You might be doing more harm than good.

5 Check each fact, individually

But it’s a mix of accurate and inaccurate advice.

6 Beware emotional posts

It’s the stuff that gets us fearful, angry, anxious, or joyful that tends to really go viral.

7 Think about biases

Are you sharing something because you know it’s true - or just because you agree with it?

Summary

  • keep them in the loop ： 让他们知情
  • infallible ：极其精确的
  • impersonate ：vt 仿冒，扮演
  • hoax ：恶作剧，戏弄
  • fishy site ：钓鱼网站
  • just in case ：以防万一
  • thrive ：兴盛，兴隆
  • It’s when we’re angrily nodding our head that we’re most vulnerable. ：当我们愤怒的点头的时候，我们最脆弱。

Reference

Coronavirus: Here’s how you can stop bad information from going viral from BBC NEWS