As the social media are flooded with coronavirus-related false information, videos and images, experts suggest not to share, follow or trust unverified news sources. Talking to Bangladesh Post, several experts warned that consequences of believing rumors could be dangerous.
They suggested that netizens must verify before sharing or believing anything in the social media. Head of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) Department at the Daffodil International University (DIU), Dr Mohammad Sheikh Shafiul Islam told Bangladesh Post, “Coronavirus has posed global threat due to large number of fatality in many countries. We are not out of danger. As social media has no gatekeeping like other conventional media; people must follow reliable news sources.”
“Most of the information posted on social media regarding coronavirus are not true. These are creating panic among people. I would suggest not to share anything without verifying. All must follow reliable and most trusted news outlets,” he suggested. Online news portal Bangla Tribune’s Senior Reporter Nuruzzaman Labu told Bangladesh Post, “ People should follow the mainstream news media to stop the rumors about coronavirus. Nobody should be panicked by social media’s unverified information. Without being 100 percent certain, nobody should share someone’s death news or something regarding lockdown.”
“If necessary, check information again. Only follow the information from the verified ID of the concerned authorities or media,” he suggested. Journalist of a Dhaka-based Turkish news agency Faisal Tariq said, “It’s normal for people to get panicked as there are countless national and international news media serving their audiences. It is the toughest task for the journalists and the authorities concerned to provide the accurate information in any crisis period.”
People should trust upon only the mainstream media for any information they are seeking, he added. Earlier, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) arrested a doctor on charges of spreading rumours over coronavirus via Facebook messenger from the Prabartak area in the port city on Saturday.
The arrestee was identified as Iftekhar Adnan, a doctor at a private hospital in the city and health affairs secretary of Jubo Dal's Chattogram city unit. CMP officials confirmed the matter at a press conference on Saturday night.
