People must confirm particular piece of information, before forwarding it to everyone on their mailing, contact list.
BAGH: These days there seems to be a tendency among many of us to become part of the herd and this is particularly evident in things like social media. For example, I can give numerous examples of people spreading things, on social media or via text messages, that are patently false. Take, for instance, the case of the Rohingyas in Burma and how a narrative was fashioned that since Jews run the media, it was ignoring the plight of the Rohingyas, since they happen to be Muslims. Many Pakistanis forwarded these messages without ascertaining for themselves whether there was even an iota of truth behind these claims.
Likewise, another message claimed that the owner of such and such belongs to a particular minority sect and that he was accused of being involved in a blasphemous act! How can such a malicious allegation be forwarded by educated people is anybody’s guess, but I have seen these things happen.
People must confirm a particular piece of information, before forwarding it to everyone on their mailing or contact list. Smart phone users in particular should use their mobiles as a means of spreading true, useful information rather than absurd and at-times malicious allegations.
Saanwal Karamat Barlaas
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2012.
