Do you get emotional when reading the news? Have you ever discovered that a news story that triggered a wave of anger and frustration might be false or misleading? Or that the headline doesn’t match the content of the news? Has someone on TikTok caused you confusion or stress after reading their incomplete, illogical, or baseless analyses?
This is completely normal if social media is your primary source of news!
A study by the World Health Organization reveals that over 50% of internet users in 24 countries consider social networks a source for staying updated on news and current events. It also states that many of these individuals determine the reliability of the news based on the level of engagement it receives.
Currently, Syrian social networks serve as a direct example of this phenomenon. Given the significant changes and major turning points the country continues to experience, these platforms have become a bustling interface through which thousands of news stories flow daily, without regulations to prevent the spread of fake content, false news, sensationalist, or misleading headlines. Recently, this has extended to include news about the LGBTQIA+ community, with unverified analyses circulating about alleged “campaigns targeting and persecuting young LGBTQIA+ individuals in Syria.”
The spread of this unverified news story has caused panic and fear among members of the LGBTQIA+ community, leading many to delete messaging apps, take additional security measures, and avoid going out to meet others, according to five individuals from the community living inside Syria.
The existence of such campaigns has not been confirmed, and these reports have only added fuel to the fire, as the saying goes, intensifying the sense of fear of the “unknown” within LGBTQIA+ communities. This is according to the field coordinator of the Guardians of Equality Movement in the capital, Damascus.
Additionally, addressing this unverified news story without considering the sensitivities and complexities of gender issues in Syrian society, as well as security and privacy considerations, has led to a negative reaction within Syrian society. This is the perspective of the founder and executive director of the Guardians of Equality Movement.
A report by the French-language channel France 24 quoted the Syrian platform Takkad, which specializes in fact-checking false news within the Syrian context, commenting on what the report described as a “flood” of fake and misleading news about Syria that has recently spread. According to Takkad, the purpose of such news is to disrupt “fragile transition efforts and peacebuilding in Syria.”
Perhaps the most important aspect is how readers and news editors handle this type of false story. Therefore, we present to you a set of guidelines aimed at readers and followers to help verify and fact-check the accuracy of news before believing or sharing it:
● Pay attention to sensational headlines: Some platforms use clickbait headlines to provoke emotions and attract audience engagement with the news.
● Verify the source: How reliable is the publisher? Are they known for credibility? Is it a news outlet, a human rights organization, a personal blog, or just a social media news page? Understanding the nature of the source is crucial.
● What evidence is provided?: Are there numbers and statistics? Testimonials or perspectives? Are there other sources that confirm the information in the news? What narrative and details support the story?
● Check the dates: What are the dates of the events? Are they recent or old events that have been republished? Old news may have already been debunked!
● Is there visual evidence supporting the story?: Verify the authenticity of images using online tools and check their dates carefully.
● Read the comments: This can help provide context for the news and uncover additional information.
Here are 5 tips for news editors when covering LGBTQIA+ stories:
- Prioritize verifying the news: This involves thorough research, ensuring access to sources close to the event, and diversifying and maintaining the independence of those sources.
- If the report covers specific violations, explain the methodology used to prepare the report to help build trust. Include multiple testimonials and perspectives.
- Engage with safe online groups and gender-focused organizations: This enhances the credibility of the report and provides access to witnesses and experts.
- Privacy is a fundamental principle: If the report involves news of murder, abduction, or arrest, it is essential to respect the privacy of victims and their families, as well as the sensitivity of gender identity issues.
Avoid sensationalism and incitement: Accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality are essential in news reporting. Ensure that no unprofessional terms, inappropriate headlines, or misleading implications are used, as these could provoke the public and lead to negative reactions.
