Rumors have always existed, from neighborhood gossip to major state affairs; baseless information circulates. The internet is no exception to this rule, and in a world where information increasingly originates from the depths of the net, it is rightly questioned for its veracity. For example, consider an image that you have undoubtedly received at some point.
This shark seems extremely dangerous and you worry for the safety of this lifeguard. No worries, this is fake. You are the victim of a hoax. This prank tells you an incredible, often outrageous story through manipulated images or biased texts. The goal? To create confusion, gather a list of valid email addresses, become a star on the web, prompt people to share personal information, manipulate public opinion—the list goes on. These stories often stem from real events, but distortions of the information or simply the desire to harm a next-door neighbor make the information meaningless and untrue. In the case of the shark attacking the rescaper, here are the actual sources of this high-quality photo montage.
The “South African” shark was supposed to be attacking a British Navy rescuer. Yet the US Air Force helicopter is flying near a bridge that looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The shark, on the other hand, was photographed by Charles Maxwell in a completely different setting. This is therefore an example that shows the necessity of stepping back when seeing an image, text, or video. Context, perspective, and certain visual tricks can deceive the eye. Our culture and interpretations based on context can shock and offend us sometimes when we see these images. Thus, we can only recommend the following websites that list, analyze, and archive these rumors for you. You will learn that email petitions are useless as emails and names disperse. Prefer a paper petition or one on the website of an organization. Never give out your personal information. Do not forward emails informing you about the closing of MSN or the loss of your love life unless you send the email to 15 people. To date, no entity can count the exact number of emails sent on a given topic. Sending your email to your family will therefore not help this baby burned in the fire of their house.
A hoax cannot be prevented. However, its spread can be controlled or stopped. With the evolution of current technologies, it is now difficult to spot the “trick”. Especially when major media themselves get trapped and/or manipulated. But rest assured, serious newsrooms (excluding Closer, Public, etc.) are now very cautious. Therefore, get your information from several different media outlets, because in information… “it’s always the false that stays in memories” —Yvan Audouard
