The Vogue Of Fake News
Surviving in this era of information and knowledge which is rapidly streaming through the ocean of technology I often wonder are we not starving for wisdom while drowning in information? Well, to be fair the answer would be a big yes from my side. Living in Pakistan has extreme complications if you are not inclined towards the preconceived notions in your head because most people would believe any information if it is endorsing what he “Feels” “believe” or in any which way have strong opinion in it. It’s so prevalent in Pakistan that sometimes I feel like a fake news myself but then the bills on my table reminds me of my existence.
As I have mentioned it is very much prevalent and omnipresent in my country but from last week it has generated intensity and plagued like a uncured virus across the media. It started with the column in Jang where it was printed that “Malika bukhaari The wife of zulfi bukhaari (the close friend of PM) has been appointed as an chairman of Benazir income support program “ which led to the severe abusive debate across social media that “How nepotistic Pti government is “spokesman of many political parties including well known PPPP leader shehla raza tweeted against it even without verifying it first but “ Maleeka Bukhaari “ cleared the air by her tweet that “she did not even know zulfi bukhaari and she is not even been made chairman of BISP.”
Second big Fake news came in the garb of a “perfect Photoshop” which was the screen of Pakistan news channel by the name of capital news and it said Sources Of Pm House states That“ the reflection of the wife of PM is invisible on mirror “ it was indeed hysterical and shocking at the same time and millions of share make it the news of the day. Many of my friends shared it without even reverse search it and (surprise surprise) capital news tweeted with the response that “ it is indeed fake “. People are still sharing it as I believe that the tweet of the capital news is also invisible to them as the reflection of Pm’s wife. Another startling thing to notice is that real news did not even get the 10 percent of the attention fake news get in general which always makes me marvel about human psychology that “negativity reaches us with electrical speed while truth or positivity reached to us as slowly as glacier “.
Third fake news was the video of sitting prime minister “Imran khan “ driving a mehran in the roads without the protocol. Again it was not imran khan but his lookalike who was enjoying the time of his life because people thought of him to be Mr imran khan and chanted slogans like “naya Pakistan” waving hands,Got emotional and people said “PM HO TOW AISA”. This news made me realized that all the fake news are not for malicious purpose some are also for the “Make Pakistan Great again”(pun intented).
After closely looking at all these news i find one element extremely shocking,dangerous and menacing that regardless of their subject they were all fake but news in support of a one political party (PTI) was rejected by second political party ( PMLN) supporters instantly and was called fake news while PTI Followers were sharing it constantly. Same happened with other news when PTI folks were calling it fake news and others who were gaining some populist stance were sharing it without even verifying the subject. It is indeed threatening that to people. “it does not matter if it is real or fake, abstract or concrete, Good or bad as long as it is benefiting their ideology or belief in any sense.
Criminalisation of fake news
People often asked me that “what if we criminalize fake news”. In malaysia you could be sentenced for 6 years if you intentionally publish false or fake news and in kenya the punishment is two years. The fact is that few countries like Malaysia, Egypt and Kenya have done that but by criminalisation of Fake news it welcomes the chances of prosecution of human rights activists who speak against the power. Suppose If a government will decide what is fake news and what is not it will surely end up in a state prosecuting the dissent which is off course not the fantasy we dream of living in today.
How to discern between real and fake news ?
This is the million dollar question with an lucid and plain answer with the quote from an American writer edgar allan poe “Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” When you read something on social media or watch it in a news channel “it is better to double-check it with an authentic source and as My Friend Says Googly Kar Ley Doubt Out Ho Jaye Ga (do some basic Google Search and Your Doubt Will Fade away)”. Embracing of Fake news always reflects the lack of critical thinking in people and if you want to cultivate the art of critical thinking “ question things rather than believe in them” and as they say “ scrutinize before you subscribe”.
