Les fake news et L’identité nationale

Anglais



To me, the first document is the best one to describe sequence 2 : we can see a sign used by a protester during a demonstration in may 2020 with the slogan “FAKE NEWS IS THE REAL VIRUS” written in black and red capital letters. To me this refers to the rising of fake news concerning the covid pandemic and more precisely the covid vaccine. In 2020 the coronavirus was one of the biggest threat concerning public health and fake news concerning the virus and its cure started appearing everywhere.

And you may be wondering what exactly are fake news ? Fake news refer to false or misleading information presented as legitimate news. It can take various forms, such as fabricated stories, modified content, or misleading headlines

. These false narratives spread through various channels and methods, often taking advantage of the interconnected nature of modern communication:through social media, websites, or traditional media outlets, impacting public perception, beliefs, and behavior which is exactly what happened during the covid outbreak.

People started spreading rumors concerning the vaccine as if it could be more dangerous than the actual virus especially because it was using new technology that a lot were scared of in consequence of how fast was it developed. Even healthcare specialists were divided because of the speed at how the epidemic spread : everyone was taken by surprise. For example Some were even saying that the virus was created just in order to make money with the vaccine or that the vaccine made people magnetic. As we can see here a lot was said about this virus that can be compared to one of the most dangerous threat of the century apart from global warming, causing the death of millions.

As the protester wrote, fake news can be a real virus and have several harmful consequences especially in this context:

• first of all medical misinformation : False health information can be particularly dangerous. For instance, misleading information about vaccines can discourage people from getting vaccinated, compromising public health by allowing preventable diseases to spread just like seen on top in 2020 or in 2016 concerning measles in Minnesota. Additionally, the promotion of unproven or harmful remedies can have severe consequences for individuals' health.

• To prevent medical misinformation from happening we can use education and awareness through Public Health Campaigns emphasizing the importance, safety, and efficacy of vaccines with healthcare providers to address concerns and spread accurate information. We can also Include educational programs in schools to teach about vaccines, disease prevention, and the dangers of misinformation through communication campaigns that debunk myths and provide factual, evidence-based information about vaccines. Another approach could be to promote media literacy and critical thinking highlighting transparency and accessibility to Ensure easy access to accurate health information from reputable sources, making it available and understandable for the general public.

• Apart from medical misinformation fake news can cause an erosion of trust : When false information is widespread, it can lead to questioning the credibility of traditional media, governments, and institutions. Public trust in these sources of information can be seriously undermined, weakening the ability to share factual and truthful information. Fake news can also fuel social divisions by spreading hate speech, stereotypes, or biased information This can reinforce existing prejudices and exacerbate tensions, compromising social cohesion .

In summary, fake news have profound implications

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