the power of tech to instantly, easily misinform
07:44, 4 August 2010
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In July, while attending a two-day media seminar in Lisbon, Portugal organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, told UN Radio that new media has helped to foster understanding in the Middle East, spotlighting the role of Facebook, Twitter and other tools in furthering dialogue. These tools, he said, could create a “conducive environment” for peace in the region. Mr. Akasaka said it is "very interesting" that Israeli and Palestinian military officials are exchanging information about the current situation, as well as their daily lives, through new media. He also voiced hope that it would help to reduce stereotypes creating fear and uncertainty about the future in the Middle East by boosting communication. See this UN News Centre press release for more info.I'm not questioning that it isn't true that Israeli and Palestinian military officials are exchanging information via the latest Internet tools, as Mr. Akasaka has said. And maybe what he's seeing is creating meaningful, constructive dialogue. But is he aware that so-called new media has helped to foster MISunderstanding about a range of issues, that it's helped create very hostile environments, reinforced stereotypes and helped create fear and anger? New media has made it easier than ever to spread misinformation and generate, and escalate, hostility.
There are plenty of people talking about how online social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube, etc.) can be used for good. And it's true, it can be -- I've seen it myself. But we also need to be aware that online social media is used for not-so-good:
- micro-blogs, tweets, texts and other technology spread misinformation about Haiti and elsewhere.
- urban legends aren't just annoying - they can promote hatred among people of different faiths.
- during the swine flu panic in the USA a while back, we saw Twitter's power to misinform.
- rumors still affect polio eradication campaigns, and "new media" has made it possible to spread this misinformation faster than ever.
- there was rampant misinformation flying around via text messaging during the terrorist attacks in Mubai, which adversely affected the ability of government officials to respond.
- so-called "new" media has helped spread misinformation to derail government health initiatives here in the USA.
- look at any story on YahooNews US, such as any stories relating to the attempts to build a new mosque near where the World Trade Center once stood. Look at the comments below the story, and prepare to have your jaw drop and the misinformation, stereotypes and hatred being spread there. Notice how many of the messages use the same phrasing - instantly borrowed and forwarded from other almost-instant-messages. I don't see any education, or anything social, at all going on in that branch of online social media.
We absolutely need to look for and celebrate examples where Internet tools do as Mr. Akasaka wants them to do, but we also MUST realize that these instant mass communications tools have made it easier than ever to misinform and create ill-will, even to encourage violence, among a huge group of people, and we need to always be ready to counter negative rumors and myths that now can be spread oh-so-quickly.
Also see:
- How to Handle Online Criticism. How a nonprofit or government organization handles online criticism is going to speak volumes about that agency, for weeks, months, and maybe even years to come. There's no way to avoid criticism, but there are ways to address criticism that can actually help an organization to be perceived as even more trustworthy and worth supporting -- and the Internet can help.
- Amy Gahran posted Responsible Tweeting: Mumbai Provides Teachable Moment that includes four excellent tips for people who want to micro-blog the news as it happens. It emphasizes checking sources and correcting information that you have found out is incorrect, and cautions journalists to remember that everything you read on the Internet or your cell phone isn't necessarily true (how sad that they even have to be reminded...)
