Smartphone users actually don’t appear to be so smart in view of the fact that they just forward any message they come across on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp without confirming its authenticity and thus play a vital role in spreading fake news.
Recently a fake message was doing rounds on web and social media together with WhatsApp congratulating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being declared the best PM by UNESCO.
As soon as the message was forwarded by a couple of people, it started spreading like wood fire and social media was flooded with tweets. Needless to say, its impact was so high that individuals even didn’t feel the need to confirm the news once before forwarding or sharing it.
But as expected, this message turned out to be fake or rather hoax! Just take a look at few tweets:
Narendra Modi is declared the best PM by UNESCO:
Congratulations ! Our pm narendra modi ji. You're our best primeminister by UNESCO report. pic.twitter.com/McIeqf5txR
— prabhakar shakya (@prabhakarshaky9) June 24, 2016
🙏🙏👏👌 Mubark Ho!!💐 Congratulation to all of us Our PM *"NARENDRA D. MODI" is now declared as the BEST PM OF THE WORLD by UNESCO*.
— ऊषा गुप्ता (@UshaGupta1) June 24, 2016
Congratulation "Our PM *"NARENDRA D. MODI" is now declared as the BEST PM OF THE WORLD by UNESCO*. pic.twitter.com/syYUME6Utf
— vidyaswaroop saxena (@cheku1941) June 24, 2016
Proud to be an Indian (for a fake news?) 😛
https://twitter.com/autovimal1/status/745900468203827201
Fully copy paste! Pay attention to the time of tweet! Just few minutes ago? Really?
Congratulation to all of us Our PM *"NARENDRA D. MODI" is now declared as the BEST PM OF THE WORLD by UNESCO*. Just few minutes ago.
Share— Jig (@jiga2129) June 23, 2016
Modi is brilliant diplomat 😛
UNESCO select prime minister Modi as best PM of the world Modi is brilliant diplomat I agree with this selection pic.twitter.com/cNv95tBkcc
— Qais Mowafaq (@QMowafaq) June 24, 2016
Impact of this viral message was so high that even Pankaj Advani (Indian professional player of English billiards and former professional snooker player) fell for it and tweeted this
https://twitter.com/pankajadvani247/status/746284674540929025
Well let us tell you the truth, this was HOAX message that went viral on Twitter, Facebook & WhatsApp in just couple of days. People forwarded this message without even validating it’s authenticity. We request our users to be careful while forwarding such HOAX messages.
We report factual information as we believe in educating our dear readers with valid information and not half baked one! So keep following RVCJ for real news & don’t fall for social media hoax.
