Trust, but verify. This old Russian adage has become highly relevant in this internet era. With the internet becoming the primary source of information for the masses, it has the potential to mould the mindset and perspective of the populace. This can be potentially harmful, considering the internet is fast becoming a haven for fake news, conspiracy theories, and scams. Adding social media into the mix is like adding rocket fuel to a raging wildfire.
With platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook & Twitter providing a medium for rapid dissemination of these unchecked fake news and misinformation, resulting in treacherous consequences such as propagation of conspiracy theories, undermining of real news and serious media coverage, polarisation of societies, swaying of elections by influencing voters, and even foreign interferences in democratic processes.