Sharing Is Caring! You’re an EXPERT at sharing the right information!
Here’s a quick 7-step checklist, although you’ve already mastered it. Share it and fight misinformation.
And here are some additional tips.Take It To Your Grave! You need to learn more about sharing the right information. Read on to know more.
Here’s a quick 7-step guide you can use to guide your social media sharing skills. If your answer to any of these questions is “No”, rethink your need to share that bit of information. Some of these checks, such as “likes” and “happy news”, are negotiable. Some of these, such as “source reliability” and “discrimination”, should be non-negotiable.
For more tips, read on.
One of the easiest questions to ask yourself about any piece of information that you want to share is, “Is this useful for others?”
For example, is it useful to know whether supermarkets will be open during a lockdown period? Yes.
If everyone already knows this information, there’s no point in sharing it, unless the point of sharing it is something other than spreading awareness.
For example, if there’s a post that says “coronavirus is no more,” and it’s already been shared 10 times, go ahead and share it again.
Or, if there’s a picture of a dog. Like and share.
If you’re sharing something just for the likes, unless that is your business, think of other ways in which you can post meaningful content. Social validation is important, but don’t let it consume you.
Always look up the source of your information. It doesn’t matter if the news is good or bad, always look up your sources. If it’s a clickbait article, it’s possibly fake news or hyped to the point of being untrue.
Fact: A man on a cycle loses his wallet containing 20 pounds when it falls out of his back pocket
Breaking News: Cyclist loses cash-laden wallet
Click Bait/Lazy Journalism: A cyclist miraculously lost over 20 pounds in a single ride. How?
Fake News: Research says that cyclists with back pockets should not carry wallets
WhatsApp Forward: Psychology says that…
This is a pretty simple test. All you have to do is get into the shoes of the other person. It’s quite easy. No. Not really. It takes time, patience, and willingness to swap shoes.
Our opinions are shaped by our world view and this world view alters whenever it encounters credible new information. If your current world view causes you to be heavily biased or even unfairly biased, maybe it’s time to examine other facts that can broaden your mind.
Is it a happy message? Share it. Is it aimed at hurting someone? Best not to share it.