Fake news is a threat to democracy: Columnist D Umapathi
Shivamogga : Press Day-2018
Shivamogga, July 1: Senior columnist D Umapathi said that the fake news being created and circulated through social media by the war rooms of political parties and unprofessional became a threat to the democracy in India where more than 30 crore people have been using Whatsapp.
Speaking at Press Day -2018 programme organized by Karnataka Media Academy, Information department and Sahyadri College Journalism Department at Zilla Panchayat hall here on Sunday, Umapathi said that social media like Facebook, Google, Twitter and WhatsApp do not know what it news. But they were making huge money just by becoming the vehicles to pass on the fake news.
“Fake news is a poisonous weed came with the development of internet. In recent years, it has reached all walks of life. There is a certain section of people who engaged in creating and circulating the fake news which sans logical and realistic base. Without knowing the reality and reliability, the users of social media blindly believe such fake news as true. Unfortunately, those who are at the helm of affairs and in important positions have been following such fake news for their gains. No doubt that it will have its tentacles on the elections in future and it will become a big threat to the democracy”, he said giving some instances on how this social media impacted the USA election and other countries.
Compared to the readers who read newspapers, the number of fake news readers is more in India. Interestingly, the internet data users have been consuming 1.3 billion GB data in 2017 in the country because of the fake news websites. Unfortunately, some main stream electronic media have also been telecasting such fake news without checking their reliability. More than 30 crore people have been using WhatsApp in the country and among them, the number of people accepting such fake news is more than questioning the authenticity. The rural users of social media would not think whether such news are genuine or not, but believe them. Such fake news are based on emotional issues than logic and reality. There were major issues like unemployment, education, agriculture sector problem and others. But the fake news was consuming the space. It has been killing the thinking process of the people and creating superiority and inferiority complex among readers. This false propaganda has entered each and every house. Because of this reason, the mainstream media has been losing its credibility, he said.
“Nowadays, the Indian media is sinking because of various reasons. Instead of polarization of news, out mainstream media is giving more importance to ‘feel-good-factor’ news. This is the main reason for declining in reliability. Instead of questioning the ruling parties, the mainstream media have joined hands with the governments and attacking those who question and oppose the governments and their policies which is really a distortion”, he opined.
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India beat SA by 135 runs in 4th T20I, clinch series 3-1
Johannesburg, Nov 15: India beat South Africa by 135 runs in the fourth and final T20 International to clinch series 3-1 here on Friday.
Opting to bat, India posted a massive 283 for 1, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), and then bowled South Africa out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
Tristan Stubbs top-scored for South Africa with 46 while David Miller contributed 36.
For India, pacer Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/20 while Varun Chakravarthy (2/42) and Axar Patel (2/6) got two wickets each.
Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi got a wicket each.
Brief Scores:
India: 283 for 1 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 109 not out, Tilak Varma 120 not out; Lutho Sipamla 1/58).
South Africa: 148 all out in 18.2 overs (Tristan Stubbs 46, David Miller 36; Arshdeep Singh 3/20).
