Misinformation and Disinformation in the Era of Social Media: The Need for Fact-Checking Skills
Authors
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Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom
Bolaji David Oladokun -
Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi StateJoel Eleojo Aruwa
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Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi StateGabriel Alhassan Ottah
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University of Ilorin, Kwara StateYusuf Ayodeji Ajani
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2024/v61i1/171266Keywords:
Disinformation, Fact-Checking, Information Professionals, Misinformation, Media Professionals, Skills, Social MediaAbstract
The paper explores the need for fact-checking skills in the era of misinformation and disinformation on social media. This paper employs a systematic review of literature through ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases to examine the need for fact-checking skills among media professionals. The paper indicates that the significance of factchecking skills among media professionals cannot be overstated in our contemporary information landscape. It is believed that media and information professionals hold a critical responsibility to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information they disseminate. Fact-checking skills, encompassing rigorous verification, source scrutiny, and a commitment to transparency, stand as a bulwark against the tide of misinformation that pervades the digital era. Given this, the paper argues that misinformation has the potential to erode trust in institutions, sow discord, and influence public opinion. By actively engaging in fact-checking, media and information professionals become agents of truth, fortifying the foundations of a well-informed and resilient society. The paper concludes that the power to combat misinformation lies in the hands of those who shape narratives and tell the stories that define our world. The commitment to fact-checking is not merely a professional obligation but a moral imperative.
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