A Step Toward 2017: Not The Year Of Bullshit
Over 62% of recent social media posts have been purported to be fake news. This, of course, is not true but it could be and I may be as reputable as anyone else you’ve read today.
The obvious lack of citation or link to a credible source could be a tip off but even that is getting out of control. The appearance of a credible news source is no longer enough to validate what you read online. You may have also overlooked all of the sponsored “reporting” that appears on credible news websites.
Facts have been wholesaled in exchange for other objectives. News agencies need revenue and in today’s super competitive environment they are relaxing their publishing requirements. Similar to a Bible belt state ushering in a new lottery game, these publications trade in tenets for dollars in a hard economy.
Unfortunately for them, fake news has no staying power. This approach is a short sighted approach to a knee jerk need.
Unfortunately for us, fake news is very potent and serves as a change agent but through deception.
Hundreds of startups are popping up every day and being showcased on websites that simply exist to highlight this phenomena and yet there hasn’t been an answer to combat fake news or fake user accounts.
YouTube Channels, Twitter accounts, and Facebook profiles have long been speckled with abusive language aimed from an invisible gun. No return fire has been possible. Unilateral damage has been caused and those who exact this chaos remain safely shrouded behind disposable accounts.
I’m calling on Twitter to make some corrective measures to combat both fake news and fake accounts. Its 2016. This is possible.
If all accounts on Twitter had to be verified then at least those that lob hate speech and spread rumors would be identifiable. Everyone has the right to say what they believe and, when challenged, have the ability to defend what they say but doing so facelessly is cowardice. I also contend that less of this would take place as you walk out of the digital dimension and into your real world and find yourself tethered to your online comments and citations. In short, you’ll be held accountable and conversations can be had.
Twitter may not be doing this, and I am not certain of this, due to the fact that there has been a lot of speculation as to the number of their fake accounts. Should they terminate or retire known fake accounts, or pause those that are not verified, then perceivably they’d lose a lot of numbers in this category. Stockholders wouldn’t take kindly to this revelation either.
Again, though, it is my opinion that propping up these fake figures and allowing this fake activity is dubious at best. Manipulating advertisers by sharing these figures knowing full well that fake accounts will not become patrons is even worse — duplicitous.
Taking a stand and rebranding Twitter to be the social network that represents an honest approach by earnestly identifying its users and aiding the verification of news links will likely discourage trolling, abuse, and the spread of lies.
Those poised against this stand in the company of those for deceit.
