AMOSLauf in Graz: fake news and panic on social media!
AMOSLauf in Graz: fake news and panic on social media!
Floridsdorf, Österreich - In Graz, a tragic amoclace ensures horrified reactions and raises questions about the spread of fake news. On Tuesday morning, at 10 a.m., a 22-year-old ex-student stormed the Borg and opened fire in two classrooms, including his former. So far, ten fatalities have to be complained about, while 12 other people, including at least two in critical condition, are treated in hospitals. After the crime, the amok shooter had committed suicide in a toilet, with the exact background of his actions still unclear. A school psychology expert sees bullying as a possible motive.
Numerous false information is currently circulating on social networks. A certain video that allegedly shows the Arab exclusion "Allahu Akbar" is shared, but it has no connection to the killing spree. It was recorded in the evening after the crime and shows pictures from a different incident: a change of shooting in the Floridsdorf district of Vienna, which took place at the end of May. Recordings of the crime itself are also circulating, although it is wrongly claimed that it is the killing spree in Graz. Such disinformation can be extremely harmful in crisis situations, as the Federal Center for Political Education determines.
resistance to false reports
The confusion about events is further tightened by images that show the US citizen Sam Hyde. Although these show a well-known Internet joke, these are incorrectly distributed as photos of the amok shooter. Such misunderstandings are not new; Sam Hyde had already been associated with other incidents in the past, which illustrates the problem of inaccurate information on social media.
The spread of fake news is classified by experts as worrying. In social media, not only false reports are circulating, but also targeted disinformation that are deliberately spread to influence opinions or to stir up fears. Empirical studies show that although less than 1% of the content are considered fake news, they are often consumed intensively in certain circles. Trust in political and media institutions plays a crucial role here, because low trust increases the susceptibility to false reports.
what can you do?
There are various approaches to combat fake news: fact checks, sensitization measures and the promotion of media literacy are some of the most important strategies. Especially in times of crises, it is important to critically question what information is really trustworthy. Media literacy should not only be taught, but actively promoted to maintain trust in serious sources and to minimize the spread of false information. The example of Graz once again shows how important it is to find your way around in the complex media landscape and to act.We recommend being particularly mindful and consuming information based on checked sources. The killing spree in Graz is a tragic memory that there are real people behind every headwear.
Further information can be found in the articles of Express , Today and bpb.de
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| Ort | Floridsdorf, Österreich |
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