It’s likely you have learned about those metered strikes that never happen. Or the fact that some islands on the planet can only exist for 10 years roughly before being submerged by global warming, nevertheless they still exist fifty per cent of a century later. While global warming may be a threat, are we getting fake survival warnings to prepare ourselves if you have still time?
All major issues concerning individual nations like the 2016 Presidential election in US and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom or those conditions that are of concern to depends upon like the problem of global warming and climate change are threatened by fake news which could result in catastrophic results. While the topic of fake news has gained a greater audience following the 2016 US election, fake news has still had a worrisome impact on us.
Fake news is not a recent phenomenon and has existed for a long time but its impact has be more widespread with the spread of the internet and social media. The fake news phenomenon has been aided by the rapid expansion of the digital medium and its capacity to deliver any message across the planet at lightening fast speed. It leads to a situation where such fake news can’t be checked, verified or challenged before it is made available worldwide.
Scientists grapple with fake news. Scientists studying climate change are grappling with this phenomenon of fake news which is able to sow the seeds of confusion in the minds of both everyone whose support is necessary to implement changes to truly save the surroundings along with your decision makers who have the responsibility of creating decisions which even if painful are necessary to avoid further environmental damage.
In such a scenario it is necessary that scientists intensify their efforts for wider dissemination of correct and factual data so that folks be more science literate and can appreciate facts because they are and aren’t swayed by misinformation campaigns and deliberately leaked fake news. World bodies like the United Nations believes that the 2030 sustainable development goals may be met only when scientific literature and discoveries obtain a wider audience.
The misinformation campaigns and deliberately leaked fake news and controversies have resulted in a situation where polls both in the US and UK reveal that although a sizable majority of scientists accept the fact that climate change phenomenon of the current era is basically fueled by human activities, the overall populace isn’t aware of such unanimity on the problem while many believe it is still an unsettled issue. Such a large scale denial of climate change and its causes is due to of the failure of the scientific community to effectively challenge fake news concerning the issue.
A change of habits is needed. Inside their quest of wider dissemination of correct and factual data, scientists must change their long ingrained habit of sharing breaking news information among the scientific community as their prime objective and instead must develop the habit of sharing their information not merely with the scientific community but with everyone also.
Inside their search for disseminating scientific information scientists must use assistance from latest technological tools so they are able to develop effective method of two-way communication with the overall public. The brand new interdisciplinary field of translational ecology can help scientists work towards changing environmental research into public policy.
Turning the current scenario into one where society understands and appreciates their viewpoint and is able to ascertain and understand the factual statements about climate change is vital if environmental issues are for widespread support throughout the world. One of many ways by which we are able to support the growth of scientific temper is to know what fake news is and trying to avoid it from spreading.
What’s fake news? Ever since ancient times, rulers have indulged in slanting and planting news to serve their interests. But giving a slant to a news to suit one’s beliefs or ideology can not be called fake news. Fake news may be referred to as a totally fabricated story without any basis that’s been floated by vested interests to serve their own purpose.
We’re also the culprit! Today with the advent of the internet everyone from an individual to media to government have a share in the spread of fake news although their motives to take action can vary from increasing political clout, to achieving financial goals or any personal agenda. But how to know whether the news headlines is genuine or fake?
In sifting for fake news, consider the origins of the news. If it’s carried by the best supply of news odds are so it won’t be fake but when it has comes from sources you’ve not heard of or are regarded as of dubious nature then you definitely must take such news with a touch of salt and verify it from a known authentic source before you begin believing it. The absolute most obvious solution for checking the spread of fake news is human intervention. Technology by itself cannot sift and segregate fake news. Realizing this dimension Facebook has begun this type of practice and has enlisted International Fact Checking Network to check into that news that users have flagged as deliberate fakes.
Stopping the spread of fake news, you yourself must begin to take responsibility of that which you share. Don’t share anything on the social networking without starting the detail of the story or the photograph. Check the foundation of the story or the photo you wish to circulate and only when they result from some reputable sources in case you share them.