KARACHI:
In today’s digital age, we encounter numerous pieces of information on different social media platforms and share them within our social circles without checking their credibility. As a result, fake news and AI-generated content spread quickly. The reason people often create fake claims is to influence public opinion and manipulate others for their personal gain. The problem gets worse in our country because individuals are never taught how to spot fake claims.
The issue is no longer limited to journalists and news organisations because nowadays, everyone relies on online sources for information. When an individual cannot distinguish between accurate and false information, they eventually make poor decisions that inadvertently affect the entire society.
All educational institutes across Pakistan must encourage students to think critically and, along with this, they must introduce short courses that teach them how to verify a claim before sharing it. Workshops and awareness campaigns must also be organised to spread awareness among non-students. All these initiatives are meant to prepare citizens not to mindlessly consume information but to be critical. In the digital age where information is abundant, it’s a necessary skill for every individual to learn so they can make responsible decisions based on facts.
Maheen Gul
Islamabad
