Yup, we’re all guilty of it…sending on a message labelled “forwarded many times” or a sketchy video that looks like something out of a movie.
We are all chronically online in the era of misinformation, and it’s really hard not get sucked in. News ‘breaks’ on TT, then gets discussed on X and then sent to the group chat, and all before it’s even made it onto an official news reporting page.
The speed at which things can be circulated is faster than DU’s premium wi-fi package, and that’s kind of the problem.
And as we all try to navigate what is going on in the world in real time, its important to be savvy with what news we are consuming, but sometimes its actually *really* hard to know what is real and fake. But dw, here’s a guide to catching fake news and how to handle it when the GC is spiralling.
Take a breathe before you panic-share
Fake news is all about creating urgency and shock. If you see something that makes your heart race and palms sweaty then take a breathe before sharing it on. Real journalism is about verification not scaremongering.
Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter of Arabian Business explains: “As journalists during a crisis, our job is to verify information before publishing it, and good journalism takes time. We are monitoring developments around the clock, cross-checking reputable sources such as international newswires and official government channels for breaking news, and speaking to experts across fields including geopolitics, trade, energy, technology and defence to ensure what we report is accurate.”
Check the source, not the screenshot
This one is pretty obvious but sometimes it still gets us. Before sharing check if verified regional news organisations are reporting on it.
Anonymous “insiders” are red flags
Be wary of “inside source” voice notes and messages.
We’ve all received the “my friend works at the airport and said” messages and tbh, anonymous vn’s and texts are one of the biggest misinformation drivers. Treat this as gossip, not news.
Don’t trust every video (even if it looks real)
Old news recirculates when crisis hits. That video? Might be years old and from a completely different country. Often, clips from old conflicts often resurface and get labelled as “happening now in the UAE” – don’t fall for it without checking for landmarks. You can also try reverse image searching.
Tala shares: “If a piece of information only exists on social media and nowhere else, treat it with extreme caution. In moments of crisis especially, old videos and images often get recycled to look like breaking news – the UAE government has warned the public about this because it has been happening. Always check reputable outlets, especially local news organisations that are in touch with the region.”
AI vids are getting scarily good
Not everything you see is real – even if it looks it. Voice clones and AI generated videos are a real problem atm. Look for:
- Anything slightly off
- unnatural blinking/lip-syncing fails
- cropped logos.
And when the group chat starts spiralling…
Step 1: Be the calm one.
Instead of: “OMG is this real??:”
Try: “Hey, I can’t find this anywhere credible, does anyone have a source?”
Step 2: Drop a verified link.
Step 3: Don’t repost if it’s not verified. Even writing “this is fake” and sharing it, amplifies it.
Step 4: Mute and archive. If the chat is stressing you out then say bye (for now).
Just remember: Being the friend who says: “Wait, let’s check this” is the ultimate green flag. Media literacy is major aura points.
If your nervous system is in its flop era, try these meditations.