Facebook Status Rumours – Detecting False RumoursThis article explains why rumours are so prolific on Facebook, how to spot them and outlines some common examples.The evolution of the Internet and the ability to communicate messages instantaneously to one another regardless of location means that a rumours ability to go viral became as easy and effortless as ever. Chain emails containing fabricated stories and fictitious nonsense began to circulate between inbox and inbox.Then came social networking, specifically Facebook. The entire foundation of Facebook is to share information with other people, meaning baseless rumours have the perfect platform to travel faster and further than they ever have before, and travel they certainly do. Everyday new rumours find themselves circulating via social networking sites and Facebook’s “status” feature that allows Facebook users to post small messages which are immediately shared with their Facebook contacts means the site is perfectly designed to carry rumours as fast and efficiently as possible. This article is designed to teach people how to spot and question different rumours that spread through Facebook. Firstly, we look at many of the telltale signs that many false rumours have – No sources? – Many rumours that circulate Facebook and other social networking sites are apparent news stories such as warnings about crimes or security warnings. Such stories would always be reported somewhere by reputable news outlets. Therefore it is not unreasonable to include a link within the message that circulates to verify the rumour. Of course false rumours never do, because they’re false! If you come across a rumour that you think could be confirmed with a simple link to a relevant online media website yet such a link is lacking, think twice before passing the message on, because that missing link is missing for a reason. Send it on! – For any false rumour to go viral, the recipients must pass the message on, meaning many false rumours will urge Facebook users to pass the message on to their friends. Alarmist Messages? – The people who create these silly rumours want Facebook users to pass them on straight away, but they need to create some motivation to get users to do that. Hence many rumours that spread online are overly alarmist and contain words such as WARNING and ALERT and try and pass themselves off as extremely important messages. They are often written entirely in capital letters for the same effect. Popular Variants – Popular variants of Facebook rumours include – Hackers – messages that circulate warning of Facebook hackers who when you add them will either hack your Facebook account or destroy your computer. Such messages are based on no reality whatsoever. You can read our full article on these hoaxes here. Security/Privacy Alerts – Facebook hoaxers love alarmist security alerts. Whether it’s the latest hacking techniques to get into your account of the latest threat about Facebook exploiting your privacy, the one thing these rumours have in common is that they are either complete lies or overly alarmist drivel designed to send Facebook users into a panic and pass the rumours on. Many common security threats include the real life malware Koobface. Pedophiles – Facebook hoaxers know that rumours about controversial subjects are more likely to irk Facebook users enough into passing on messages, and the subject of paedophilia is one subject that is constantly and immorally exploited by hoaxers. Whether it is groups apparently run by paedophile rings or apparent pedophiles adding children to their accounts, they are all lies. (Read our blog post here.) Facebook is closing/charging – Hundreds of different variants are always floating about claiming Facebook will either be charging or closing down. Never true of course. Missing Children – Sometimes true, mostly untrue, missing children hoaxes are a popular pastime for Facebook hoaxers who make up names and claim they are missing and urge Facebook users to pass the messages on. If in doubt, look for a viable source to confirm. If the message fails to even identify a location, then ignore, because the message will be of no use even if it were true. If you are ever in doubt about a rumours legitimacy, always seek help. Use Google to verify a source, or go to an anti-hoax website and ask. We have support forums here where you can always ask a question and we or other members will be happy to help. |
Comments
poL says: |
that could be possibly true there are many factors that it can happen. |
| posted on 06/26/11 |
karen says: |
i want to see |
| posted on 11/19/11 |
rohit says: |
@[997:0] |
| posted on 01/22/12 |
xx says: |
xx |
| posted on 01/24/12 |
raphy ace says: |
? |
| posted on 01/28/12 |
candace says: |
Would facebook ever help a cause....please give some concrete examples |
| posted on 02/03/12 |
dasds says: |
@[599:0] |
| posted on 02/10/12 |
dasds says: |
@[004:0] |
| posted on 02/10/12 |
Bleu says: |
hoax-slayer.com is best one |
| posted on 08/10/12 |
