The moment you hear the term fake news we usually think of social media posts with rather fantastic, implausible stories. While posts shared on social media is its most visible aspect, there is so much more to fake news than exaggerated article titles on social media feeds.

Although we had been talking a lot about fake news for some time, it caught global attention when many analysts regarded the sensational victory of Donald Trump in the US Presidential 2016 election as an effect of a large number of Pro-Trump Fake News going viral over a number of social media and fake news websites. According to a study of Stanford University, the fake news websites and social media received 159 million visits during the month of US election 2016.

Fake news may seem new, but the platform used is the only new thing about it. Propaganda has been around for centuries, and the internet is only the latest means of communication to be abused to spread lies and misinformation. In fact, fake news on social media is not just a post that been liked, shared or followed, rather it is a powerful technique of multiplying cyber propaganda with its dominant effect on a large area of social media users.

Propaganda intends to manipulate public opinion about something, either by publishing misleading information or outright fabrication and lies. This has remained a matter of national security as those lies become used to intimidate and misinform voters. These days, with technology and social media making for a much smaller world, it’s easy to share information across borders and sway anyone’s opinion on a matter. The impact of fake news in not just confined to the western world, it took hold of the third world countries with its fair share of news circulation over social media platforms. A section of media and cyber experts believe that the changing media ambience of the new millennium led readers to believe, comment, share and follow that information that fit their ideologies and perceptions.

 Cybersecurity has the power to get rid of false sites and stories that have known connections to criminals or political enemies of the state. Information can be harmful, such as hoaxes used to cause mass grief or panic. Cyber security to some extent can help in this area. The Cyber Future Foundation was built with the idea of keeping the internet’s information pathways as clean as possible while also doubling down on identity fraud. The foundation plays a pivotal role in curbing the fake news through cybersecurity professionals. Maximum can be done through educating the public and the readers about the impact of fake news on socio, political, cultural and religious areas.

Most of the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google have taken steps to curb this issue. But the spread of fake news cannot be checked fully as it gains wide popularity through the social media platforms. The best way to keep away from fake news is to be alert and aware about its impact on our lives. Use internet carefully and with all possible precautions to keep away from fake news.

Source- OMNES Editor