'False' news spread on social media a problem for many groups

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'False' news spread on social media a problem for many groups
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION
@lekasina

BANGKOK: -- PROBLEMS caused by information circulated via social media are worsening matters, given the amount of time that Thais spend online.

According to the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), a public organisation, Thais usually spend around seven hours a day online and most of that is spent on social media.

This phenomenon has had an impact on many businesses due to the time people are forced to spend on social media, especially content businesses, like news providers, bloggers and websites.

It has also affected the way people get news and other information, with rumours sometimes mistaken for genuine news reports.

Nowadays, many people do not get their news by directly accessing a media organisation's website. Rather, it comes via their social media timeline, with news shared among "friends".

They click to read a news story and many do not bother to look at the URL of the link. People often don't know where the news comes from because they may not care about the source of news unless the content appeals to them in a human interest sense.

This behaviour has resulted in the launch of websites that provide news with 100-per-cent sourced material. A lot of copied content comes from official media websites, mostly online papers, and is simply stolen.

The websites with sourced copy often do not provide an accessible referral link (they give a link that cannot be accessed by clicking on it] and post their content on social media with emotive headlines - a lot of the time completely changed from the original one - in order to attract attention like newspapers do.

So why do these websites do this? It is obviously done to attract traffic, as the volume of people who click on to a site can be monetised.

The high number of people who consume news via a social media timeline has attracted the attention of official media websites, which are using arresting headlines and photos to try and grab people's attention.

Digital literacy is challenging Thai society. Educating young Thais and new Internet users - people who usually use the Internet for the first time via a mobile phone - on how to use the Internet and social media in a proper way seems to be a priority for relevant organisations, not only the government but also the private sector, schools and families.

However, more than negative information is obviously read on social media. The beauty of social media is it gives people information instantly and there are many expert posts. It is free and often useful content.

So, be concise when surfing social media and careful when consuming information. But, of course, what you read is always your choice.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/False-news-spread-on-social-media-a-problem-for-ma-30258218.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-18

[noitom]

This editorial lacks a coherent perspective. Is it about "false" news as the headline claims? Or is it about Thais spending a disproportionate time on social media? Or yet is it about the "proper" type of activity? Very incoherent writing by this Thai writer.

[jerojero]

Welcome to the world of The Internet. World Wide Web. What's supposedly false or what the government doesn't want exposed is often one and the same!

[ExPratt]

It may also be a case of "Genuine news articles" being nonsense themselves

[Toknarok]

Nowadays, many people do not get their news by directly accessing a media organisation's website. Rather, it comes via their social media timeline, with news shared among "friends".

Of course they do, how else are they to get to know what is going on in the World. Thai media have always been mediocre at best and are now subject to Junta suppression. Throw in Lese Majeste, defamation laws and Article 44 you are bound to get curious people turning to the net and their 'friends' to find out what is going on in their own heavily censored Country.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Toknarok

[Orac]

Maybe a bit too much competition???

[emilymat]

OMG this modern language.

'Consuming information" !!!

[arthurwait]

Tourist figures are up.

The baht is strong.

The people are happy.

Burmese did it.

Car sales will soar.

Skint Hi so person did so and so

[thesetat2013]

After drudging through this article the end of it showed me its true purpose. This article is a propaganda piece designed to get people to use their social media accurately instead of the norm of reporting what is thought, felt, assumed or guessed.

Perhaps this article is from the new Thai social media group I heard about that teaches thais to use social media correctly but then if I said that I would be using this social media outlet incorrectly because I would be using thinking, feelings, assuming or guessing about it.

Edited April 18, 2015 by thesetat2013

[Suffinator]

According to the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), a public organisation, Thais usually spend around seven hours a day online and most of that is spent on social media.

Let's be honest, they are either playing on their mobile phones, eating or sleeping ... no wonder this country is in the economic sh***er.

As for Thais reading the news I doubt that occurs very much; they are either talking nonsense on Facebook or playing games.

[ksamuiguy]

"Just The Facts"

It takes me hours to read the news now days, I have to sort out all the rumors, opinions, misquotes of the reporter or presenter.

I have stopped looking and reading the news. Just give me the facts and I will form my own opinions.

Don't need any one to think for me!

[cookee68]

Its a place for the worse shit to be spread. and also the best news to be brought to the public when true, you just have to decide which is fact and which is fiction