Think before you share:

By: Ali Noor

Despite the fact that social media has become an integral part of our daily life, it is imperative for everyone to use caution,prudence, and discretion.
As we are now witnessing a brutal war, the search for authentic information and reliable sources of news becomes a priority. I recently read a book by Guy Harrison in which he discusses social media’s effect on the brain and suggests needed tools to navigate our News-feed.
The author presents scientific studies that shed light on why our subconscious minds are drawn to social media and how this affects our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. We are now exposed to numerous conflicting information and polarising propaganda that will only create confusion and could lead to actual harm on the ground.
It is a fact that social media platforms play a dual role in modern conflicts. On the one hand, they enable people to remain connected to family, friends, and the outside world and to access a wide range of critical life-saving information. On the other hand, they serve as vectors of disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech. People should know that misinformation is false information believed to be true and shared with no ill intent, while disinformation is known to be false and shared with malicious intent.