A lesson for all: How to tell fake news from genuine news

Although most people are on social networking platforms, some just aren’t aware of how to verify the authenticity of "news" reports sent through messages. Photo: Pixabay

Retired engineer JS Wong, 60, often forwards news, video clips and other information that he receives to his contacts and groups on WhatsApp. But when asked for the source and whether the information is true, he is often unable to verify it and his usual reply is: “I don’t have the original link. My friend sent it to me, so I guess it must be true lah!”

Unfortunately, this is the case with many in Malaysia who don’t distinguish whether news, videos or information that are posted or forwarded to them through social networking platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook (Messenger) or other platforms are true, before reposting or re-forwarding them.