PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Individuals should seek information from authentic government sources and other reliable channels rather than believing the false narratives often spread on social media. This recommendation comes in response to the growing number of rumours, misleading narratives and AI-generated videos that have been increasingly circulating on various platforms. Recently, a rumour about the death of actor Dharmendra also spread on different platforms.
Residents, along with experts, expressed their concern about the rise in false narratives that proliferate across social media. Vishakha Dimri said that she has personally witnessed a significant increase in false videos and rumours. She said that such misinformation indirectly affects the minds of residents, fostering fear related to various tragedies and disasters. Dimri believes that action should be taken against those responsible for spreading such rumours.
Professor Neeraj Khattri from IMS Unison University here stated that AI-generated videos propagating false news and misinformation spread rapidly on social media. He emphasised that such misinformation can easily influence society, generating fear and anxiety among individuals. Khattri suggested that people should not rely solely on social media for information, but instead verify facts through authentic news channels and sources.
Clinical neuropsychologist Dr Sona Kaushal Gupta added, “Just as a physical diet plays an important role in an individual’s life, an emotional diet does as well. Unfortunately, the emotional diet of people has been negatively affected due to false narratives and rumours circulated on social media. Our emotional well-being is influenced by what we see and hear; thus, exposure to false rumours can harm people’s mental states. I recommend that instead of believing everything they encounter on social media, individuals should seek information from credible government sources and avoid repeatedly watching negative videos.”
