Social media has become part of people's life. We use all kinds of social media as platforms to interact with friends, get informations and so on. There are 890 million people who log on Facebook daily and the statistics is still increasing. However, informations we get for social media platforms are not poorly vetted and these potential false information can cause serious problems due to thier fast spreading speed. There are huge amount of information on social media and it is very difficult for ordinary people to tell the credibility. The wide spread of false information could lead to serious consequences. Authorities of telecommunication departments should make laws to prevent severe outcome from happening. Education sector should start to pay more attention to critical thinking skills and equip students with such skills.
On personal level, a deliberate or unintentional rumor could lead to human flesh search which would expose all personal details of the targeted person. His reputation could be damaged and personal life could be disturbed. For example, Chinese anti-corruption campaign uses social media as a platform to expose corrupted officials. However, some people use it as a chance to discredit political opponents by posting false information online. The targeted person could be ended up in internal investigation which could be considered as a stain in his profile. On a much larger scale, a false rumor like disease outbreak or crime could cause mass panic and result in social disorder. For instance, rumor about Ebola spreading fast in Guinean made student scare to return to school.
Actually many countries have started working on false information spreading on social media platforms. For example, China passed a law last year regarding punishment of intentional rumor spreaders. According to this law, if your post contains false information and it is re-posted for over 500 times or gets over 5000 comments, you will be sentenced for up to two years sentence. India also implemented laws to give up to five years sentence regarding false online information which may lead to social panic, after Mumbai Explosion 2011. However, there are still many problems of such method. It would be difficult to differentiate whether or not the person is spreading intentionally. He may happen to believe what he spreads. Also, implementing such laws means that the government has to monitor the online voice everyday and block some voices.On one hand, people may fear that the government use such laws as excuses to silence political opponents. On the other hand, most governments may be reluctant to adopt such methods as it could be seen as strong censorship and jeopardize their reputation in freedom of speech. In the end, no matter how strong the punishment is or how strict the laws are carried out, the source or benefit of spreading rumor is still there. Such method could only ease the consequences but never stop the spreading because it never target at the original source.
Education is another possible way to solve false information problem. School equip students with better critical thinking skill which enable them to recognize rumors and false information and then choose not to spread them.The primary reason that false information could have such huge influence in due to fast spreading and the fast spreading is done by ordinary people who could be easily deceived. So, this problem would only stop when most people can recognize the problem by themselves. This could be done by having critical thinking lessons in primary and secondary schools. Since most online activities are carried out bu teenagers, equipping them with better critical thinking skills is the most effective way of solving problem. Also, their presence in schools make the cost much lower than educating adult who are out in society.
In conclusion, education could stop false information from spreading from the source but its time frame is too long. It may take years or even decades to see its effect. So I suggest to use both of the above methods. In the short run, we implement laws to punish intentional rumor spreaders and prevent severe consequences. In the long run, we let people to judge the credibility of sources by themselves through education. Once the education method starts to show its effect, the government can abandon the first one as people would be ready.
Camara K, Guinea Scrambles to shut down false vaccination Rumor, Voice of America, Feb 15 2015, http://www.voanews.com/content/guinea-scrambles-to-shut-down-false-vaccination-rumor/2644744.html
Chinese Supreme Court Explanation of Stopping Online Rumors, Sep 09 2013, http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2013-09/09/c_117293022.htm
Section 505 of India Penal Code,http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1198526/
1.What do you like the best about the ideas in this essay? Be specific. (precise vocabulary, cohesive/linked ideas, clear/easy to follow discussion, convincing, effective reasoning/argument, well-developed ideas, well-supported topic sentences, understandable transitions, etc.)
ReplyDelete1. The structure of the article is very clear. I can figure our clearly the problem, the impact of the issue, some possible solutions, the shortcoming of the existing solutions and the suggestions from the author.
2. Some examples that the author used to support the idea are appropriate, such as the example of China and India.
3. The evaluation for the existing solutions is detailed and comprehensive. For example, the author analyzes the shortcomings of the publishing a law from three angles, including personal level and government aspect.
4. The ideas are cohesively liked together. The benefits and problems of different existing solutions and then the own suggestions from the author.
2.Is there a clear, narrowly-focused problem presented in the essay? Is it contextualized in the intro? Is it expressed well in the thesis?
The description of the problem is clear and contextualized in the intro. However, I can not figure out which sentence is the thesis. It like the first whole paragraph is the thesis statement.
3.How well is the first solution described? How effectively is that solution evaluated?
The first solution is described very well. The author has used the examples from China and India to explain the first solution. The weaknesses of the fist solution have been evaluated effectively. However, there must be certain advantages for the first solution. I think it should be mentioned in the evaluation.
4.How well is the second solution described? Is it effectively connected to a positive outcome?
The second solution also described very well and it is effectively connected to a positive outcome.
5.Are there any ideas in the essay that need further development? Which parts of the essay require further elaboration?
The proposed solution should be narrow down and further explained, such as how to improve the education and how to combine these tow solutions together. Also the thesis statement should be more clear.
6.Does the writer effectively use outside source material to illustrate the problem and/or the solutions?
Yes.
7.What is your impression of the flow of the content?
Good. The transition sentences are clear.
8.Are there any ideas in the essay that are not clear or that you find confusing? Underscore/ highlight these.
No
9.Are the citations used in this essay appropriate? Are the reporting verbs effectively used? Does the reference list adhere to the APA guidelines?
The citations used in this essay are not appropriate. And also the reference list doesn’t adhere to the APA guidelines.
10.Can you give a couple specific suggestions for how the writer could most improve this essay?
I think the pronoun used in this article can be improved, such as his reputation....he may happen to....etc.