Social media has a dramatic impact on the ways we interact with one another. Social media platforms have connected us to at least one another in new and impactful ways. Stories and opinions can gain exposure with unprecedented speed, giving individuals around the globe continuous access to a near-real-time conversation about both important and trivial matters. In addition to making sure to never share personal details on social media, it’s important to understand the impacts of sharing potential misinformation. This can combat many various forms, and everyone can have a negative impact on public discourse by misleading and manipulating readers — whether intentionally or not. Read below for a few differing types of misinformation on social media, also as samples of each.
On social media, your options for shaping your news feed differ from platform to platform. Below, you’ll find links to explanations of the options you have on the four most prominent social media networks: If you have identified misinformation on social media, there are steps you can take to report it. Not all social media have clearly defined guidelines for fake news, but if the misinformation is harmful, you should report it. Note that the specific process for doing so differs from platform to platform:
Facebook: When you spot a post with intentionally false information on it, click on the ellipsis in the top-right corner of the post. On the drop-down menu, then click on “Find Support or Report Post.” Select “False News,” then click “Next” to report the post. Likewise, if you found a page full of misinformation — such as a Facebook Group that spreads harmful conspiracy theories — you can click on the ellipsis at the top of the page and select “Find Support or Report Page.” Select “Scams and Fake Pages,” then click “Next” to report the page.
Instagram: If you believe a post containing misinformation constitutes spam or is abusive, you can report it by clicking on the ellipsis in the top-right corner of the post, then tap “Report” or “Report inappropriate” (on desktop). If you would like to report an account, attend their profile page and click on the ellipsis next to their name, then click “Report user.” Once you are doing so, you’ll be given some on-screen instructions for completing your report.
Snapchat: To report an abusive post, press and hold on the screen until a flag appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap the flap to report the content. If a user is posting fake news that is harmful to others, press and hold on to the user’s name. A menu will appear at the rock bottom of your screen. Here, you should tap “More,” and “Report.” You’ll then need to follow the on-screen steps to complete your report. To report content on your desktop, click on the icon at the bottom of the video, then click “Report Snap.”
Twitter: Whether you spot it in a direct message, a tweet, you can report abusive or harmful misinformation. Report a tweet by tapping or clicking on the chevron in the top-right corner, selecting “Report Tweet,” then selecting “It’s abusive or harmful.” you'll report an inventory by navigating to the one you would like to report, then tapping the ellipsis at the top you will then follow the same steps as outlined above. To report a direct message, hover over the message; select the report icon, then select “Report @username.” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your report.
You must be logged in to post a comment.