Note: The views and opinions expressed in blog/editorial posts are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of Misbar.
The current COVID-19 epidemic has forced many to stay indoors, with the Internet becoming their only connection to the outside world. This has made people more vulnerable to false and misleading news. At a time when the circulation of information on social media has worsened, people who you may not have thought would believe false or misleading information might send it to you. So how can you tell them that it is false information without getting into a fight?
The first step you should take is to talk to the person in private. Make sure it is not a group conversation, as that may embarrass them and put them in a defensive position. If you are angry try to hide it. Communicate assertively instead of aggressively and keep an open mind, as the information may be more complex than you realize.
You should also try to be patient if the person is elderly. The elderly population often has less knowledge than young people on how to deal with the Internet and misinformation. Because of this, they may be less open to hearing about your correction.
After informing the person in a private conversation that you believe they are sharing false information, they may reply to you by sending an article or other supporting evidence to prove their claim. In this case you should first question yourself and re-examine what the person sent you; the truth may be less simple than you think. Conduct further research and use your critical thinking skills to determine whether you still think they are sharing false information.
If the person answers that they are only forwarding the information and do not know if it is true or not, tell them gently (yet firmly) that the information is not reliable, and that circulating it may cause harm, especially in the context of the current epidemic.
Also try to use phrases that make them feel respected, such as "I trust you, but," and have your discussion in a safe environment. Always include reliable sources to prove your words so that it does not devolve into an opinion-based argument.
If you do not know the person who sent you the information, have a private conversation about the seriousness of sharing misleading information, the damage it can cause, and that it is best not to share any information before knowing if it is true or not.
If the person admits and understands that the information they shared is wrong, you can help them to publicly acknowledge their error without being criticized by their peers. This starts with deleting fake content if possible to limit its spread. Further, advise them to send another message such as: "My friends, I shared this information a while ago but I have now discovered that it is false/I am not sure it is true, so I ask you not to continue sharing it. I'm sorry, and next time I'll do better!”
If the person then continues to share false information, you can draw their attention again with a private conversation about it. If they do not respond, then you can gently expose it in public conversation. Do not attack the person sharing the information but instead point out that the information they shared is incorrect. Your priority is to try to prevent misinformation in the first place. If the person sharing the information does not care, then you can help stop the spread of misinformation by pointing out its inaccuracies.
