Students Sensitized Against Spreading of Fake Information
Sensitizing students to verify everything they receive or see on technology platforms, helping them in spotting misinformation and tips & tricks to stay safe on WhatsApp were the primary objectives behind the workshop “Best Practices Against Fake Information” organized today. The workshop was organised by Amity Institute of Anthropology in association with Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG) & NASSCOM Foundation.
“The subject being discussed today is important in contemporary times as WhatsApp has penetrated our lives in a way that it has become a necessity. And the messages we receive often influence us,” said Dr Mala Bhandari from Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG).
Ms Bhawna, Senior Executive, NASSCOM Foundation took sessions during the workshop with an objective to spread awareness and sensitize the students with regard to their Safety while sharing and believing information available on WhatsApp. During the workshop it was shared that the number of people with smartphones in the country stood at 337 million, while the estimated number of people using WhatsApp in India was 300 million. Students were also informed about the ‘Each one Teach Three’ initiative from NASSCOM Foundation in the fight against misinformation.
With the menace of wrong and fake news penetrating and disrupting daily lives with the influx of Mobile Phone Technology in contemporary times, the workshop provided important insights and sensitized students. Best practices and tools that can be used to find the reality, like websites that could be used to check the authenticity of a news, were also shared with the students to curb the menace of fake news. “There is a need to be logical rather than just have blind faith when it comes to messages and information being shared on WhatsApp,” said Ms Bhawna.
It was also unanimously agreed during the discussions that there is a need to understand the necessity of an ecosystem where fake and dubious information is not taken at face value, but critically analyzed to understand whether it’s based on fact or is simply a tool to create disharmony in the society. Students also shared their various experiences about getting fake information and messages on WhatsApp and on other social media accounts and pledged to check their authenticity in the future before sharing the messages.