Is sharing actually caring?

A deep look at the motives

behind spreading fake news.

Hashir Adeel

UWRT 150

Professor Pitt

April 25th, 2022

1|Page
Introduction
Over time, the gradual increase in the spread and consumption of fake news is mainly a
result of advancements in modern technology such as social media and the internet as a whole.
This has made it ever so easy to put something on the internet, where it is available to anyone
who has access to the internet. This can be done without claiming any responsibility for it or
considering the consequences of spreading such misinformation. It has been a trend especially
with older people aged 35-50 as they do not necessarily check or may not really have time to
check if some information is true or not, they could be working individuals with busy lives who
usually tend to share it, thinking that by doing so it will benefit others. This is the cause of a big
problem as such false information is capable of causing harm to those who are exposed to it and
that is why it is crucial to address the phenomenon of fake news.

The dissemination of false news has a number of negative implications, both

psychological and physical. The individual spreading the misleading news could have a variety
of motives. Some may even appear to be good, but can disseminating fake news actually have a
positive influence? This contains a variety of factors, including technology, ignorance, altruism,
and FoMo. That is why it is necessary to understand what the key motivations were for
disseminating false news during a time when Covid 19 was at its pinnacle and the world was
exposed to more fake news than ever before. The spread of fake news has a multitude of unique
causes, ranging from individuals who are unable to distinguish the good from the bad or having a
careless attitude towards sharing anything that seems relevant. In order to establish control over
it one must consider and understand the consequences it has on the general public as well as the
causes since the two are interconnected.

What type of fake news is being addressed?

This article addresses false news in relation to the Covid 19 pandemic in particular. This
has been a period when the propagation of false news was at an all-time high, owing to the fact
that it was the first time we encountered a scenario like this. As a result, Covid 19 sparked
widespread panic, and people began sharing false information about the outbreak, knowingly or
unknowingly, in the hopes of spreading as much information about the virus as possible,
supposedly for the benefit of others, but that is far from the real picture. And since the pandemic

2|Page
was so new, it was extremely difficult to fact-check any information or news about it. Though
the majority of people who spread bogus news did so in the hopes of helping or benefiting
others, there was a group of internet users who did it with malicious intent.

In an article by Anuja Venkatachalam, a quote from Tedros Adhanom says something

like: “we’re not just fighting a pandemic but also an infodemic.” This statement sadly was the
harsh reality during the Covid-19 period as people did not know enough about the virus and they
fell prey to misinformation.

Sharing fake news can create two sides to a story.

Fake news isn't always easy to spot. It is impossible to determine if any information
given about Covid 19 is accurate or false, and as a result, fake news may be said to establish two
sides to a narrative. One side would be that of the one who is sharing it, and the other would be
that of the person who is receiving it.

It's possible that the person posting it is only doing it for the sake of enjoyment; this is
especially significant in light of the worldwide lockdowns. And when you're stuck in a small
location for an extended amount of time, you'll discover new ways to occupy yourself and
remain active. And since there was so much unknown, false news was a popular subject.

This is also connected to ignorance. That is because, if a person finds enjoyment in such a
serious matter about which there is so much worry, it demonstrates their level of ignorance about
the pandemic. Other causes for spreading false news exist, but these two are connected to the
circumstance where someone spreads fake news as a coping technique without any good or
negative intentions.

The 2016 US presidential elections are a well-known example, in which Democrats

claimed that false news helped Republicans win the election, resulting in Donald Trump's
victory. However, Republicans refuted this, claiming that they, too were influenced by fake
news. As a result, the public was divided into two camps, one supporting the Democrats and the
other siding with the Republicans. It is obvious that one party had the correct perception of the
circumstance, but determining who was correct and who was incorrect is difficult, making it
tricky challenge for us to determine whose side of the tale is correct.

3|Page
 Another example is regarding disinformation and conspiracy theories about the Covid
vaccination in Nigeria, which has led to a high level of vaccine apprehension. There was a lot of
disinformation floating around regarding the vaccination, such as those who didn't believe in the
presence of Covid 19 since they hadn't seen it. This led to the creation of incorrect notions that
the vaccination was ineffective, and from a small number of individuals thinking this, a larger
number of people were affected since they didn't know what to believe in.

Spreading false information is wrong, even if it is just done for fun.

Spreading incorrect information is unethical from a moral standpoint since it can be used
to hurt others. Many people may believe that by providing as much information as they can on
matters like COVID-19 and the vaccination, they are assisting others. However, it is our
obligation to ensure that, because of the risks associated with disseminating more knowledge,
some sharing does not result in caring, because spreading misinformation does not assist others.
Rather, it generates a more convoluted vision of what is proper and what is not in their minds.

What may provide enjoyment for one person often causes problems for others since they
are unaware of the intentions of the one who is giving such news or information. People are more
prone to trust whatever they see when there is already so much concern about a virus. As a result,
even disseminating fake news for fun is unethical, and people must be made aware of this.

By raising awareness about how bad the consequences of fake news can be,

the spread can be controlled.

The major motivations for spreading false information, such as ignorance and altruism,
create harm since what one may believe is beneficial to others actually has a harmful influence
on them because they may not be able to distinguish between true and false information. The
idea is that a relaxed attitude toward sharing information is morally questionable, and that the
best approach to help others is to be cautious and conscientious about what information you
provide.

Governments should incorporate more public knowledge and other enhanced approaches,
such as better and more simply accessible fact-checking websites. Or the development of

4|Page
software in partnership with digital juggernauts that instantly determines if a piece of
information is real or fraudulent. These tactics have the potential to stop the spread of fake news,
but other ways, such as national helplines where incorrect information can be reported and the
relevant authorities can track down where it came from and take appropriate action, will also aid
the cause.

If the general people, tech corporations, and governments all take this issue seriously and
act together to address it, we will see a shift in the trend of false news.

Conclusion

Fake news is an issue that will last as long as humanity, and there is no way to totally
eradicate it, especially given how quickly technology advances. However, in order to counteract
the propagation of fake news, a few reasonable and required activities must be performed.
Understanding the fundamental motivations behind false news and spreading awareness about
the repercussions, as outlined in the article, is critical to preventing the spread of fake news.

What appears to be a nice deed by an individual in attempting to offer knowledge to

others in order to benefit them can quickly backfire. As a result, social media platforms and
governments must collaborate on a single objective to combat fake news by promoting
awareness of fake news literacy, so that both those who share false news and those who receive it
are aware of how to spot it. This will primarily benefit people who are the recipients of bogus
news, as they will be able to serve as a barrier and prevent it from spreading further. However,
the next step should be to alert relevant authorities so that the source of such information may be
traced and appropriate action taken against the person. For this, either a helpline or an online site
where such information may be submitted should be established.

Finally, local governments must raise awareness about the consequences of sharing false
information, so that people are aware of the actions that can be taken against them, whether they
are doing so with good intentions or bad, adding another factor that could help control and
minimize the spread of fake news.

5|Page
References

S. Mo Jang, Joon K. Kim (2018) Third person effects of fake news: Fake news regulation and
media literacy interventions. Computers in Human Behaviour 80 (2018) 295-302

Tarlach McGonagle (2017) ‘‘Fake news’’: False fears or real concerns? Netherlands Quarterly of
Human Rights 2017, Vol. 35(4) 203–209

Venkatachalam, A. (2021, January 19). Covid-19 internet. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from
https://www.ha-asia.com/internet-searches-on-fake-news-misinformation-and-
disinformation-peak-during-covid-19/

Vimala Balakrishnan, Kee S. Ng, Hajar Abdul Raheem (2021) To share or not to share – The
underlying motives of sharing fake news amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
Technology in Society 66 (2021) 101676

Wonodi, C., Obi-Jeff, C., Adewumi, F., Keluo-Udeke, S. C., Gur-Arie, R., Krubiner, C., Faden,
R. Conspiracy theories and misinformation about covid-19 in Nigeria: Implications for
vaccine demand generation communications (2022). Vaccine, 40(13), 2114-2121.

6|Page
7|Page