Sharing is caring

This classic quotes, I believe isn’t always applicable.

Some time ago, I was removed by a friend in Blackberry messenger, you know why? Because I told her that the information she broadcasted was a hoax. Something was probably wrong in the way I reminded her, or in the way she cares about me.

Around last month, in the midst of salt scarce, our social media was enlivened by the news of salt which was said to be made of glass. Many were deceived and considered it was fact because of the video they watched. Some weeks after, a food stall of Rumah padang in Jakarta lost its 40% customers because of a hoax video about rice made of plastic.

Dear audience,

Sharing is caring, only if you care what you share. It’s so human that we want to be number one. But when we want to be number one in spreading information, let’s slow down for a while, and question, do we spread fact, or hoax?

Our ministry of communication and technology reported that report on fake news significantly increased by 5.070 in 2017, meanwhile report about pornography is only 308. What does it mean? Hoax have been mountainous!

Dear fellow toastmasters,

You probably think that hoax is merely something funny and parades of pictures to laugh at. But, as I mentioned earlier, it brings tremendous negative impact. It’s destructive!

Maybe, we actually don’t want to part of the parade of hoaxers. However, most of the time we easily share information we believe to be true, to have power of influencing others. Meanwhile we don’t like receiving hoax.

So, here are some steps that we can use to avoid spreading hoax

Be smart to doctored images

When you receive or see pictures, try to check more sources of information, and don’t just rely on the evidence immediately in front of your eyes. For example, about Rohingya, yes, the humanity crisis does happen, yet many pictures shared are hoax. When Raisa married Hamish Daud, many citizens replaced Hamish’ pictures with theirs. See, doctoring pictures is simple, so think about it when you receive images intended for propaganda.

Accept your ignorance

We are not Mr know all. “Many people suffer from over-confidence – the belief they know more than the average person. And our smartphones – with infinite knowledge at our finger-tips – can exacerbate this effect”. This makes us less critical of the information that reinforces our assumptions, and underestimates anything that disagrees with us. When you receive information or news, spend some minutes to find out more. How? by checking additional information.

Be curious

A psychologist Tom Stafford arguews that we can get benefit from curiousity. With curiosity, we will try to find scientific evidence in a more balanced way – thus, not blinded by the existing ideology.

Use common sense

Suddenly you see a post saying that you will get new Samsung Galaxy Note 8 by forwarding the news to 10 persons. Seriously? You might think it’s funny but some really forwarded it!

Dear fellow toastmasters,

No matter how many websites and regulations to prevent hoax, our mentality is what matters in preventing hoax. Before I finish my speech, allow me to hand you this good news that by the end of this contest, free dinner is available downstairs for all of us. Now, do you think it’s hoax or fact?

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