Israel-Hamas Conflict: How To Avoid Falling For Misinformation

To navigate this information landscape successfully, media literacy becomes a crucial skill.

In the era of social media, distinguishing between credible news and misinformation is more challenging than ever. The sheer volume of information creates confusion and makes it hard to separate actual events from misleading or false depictions. To navigate this information landscape successfully, media literacy becomes a crucial skill.

The Israel-Hamas conflict, with its deep-rooted complexities, has become a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. Along with the conflict on the ground, the information war also broke out on the internet. This information war is being played out on several fronts.

"Each side will attempt to shape perceptions, in some cases through any means necessary, and false information will play a key role," notes a report by Rand Corporation.

In other words, people from all over the world who support each side are enthusiastically sharing and liking the content related to the conflict on social media. They are creating and spreading content that aligns with their perspective on the conflict.

Sharing old, unrelated or out-of-context videos and images is a very common practice during conflicts. The ongoing war is also no exception to that. For example, unrelated images have been in circulation to falsely claim mistreatment of Palestinian children by IDF soldier, or videos of ‘crisis actors’ pretending to be a victim in Gaza.

The danger of this is that it pollutes the entire information ecosystem.

“Disinformation doesn’t just get you to believe a false thing is true; it also gets you to believe a true thing is false. That’s the poison that disinformation puts in the atmosphere,” says Lee McIntyre, a research fellow at Boston University’s Center for Philosophy & History of Science.

Why Should We Be Careful?

Misinformation can have real-world consequences, affecting public opinion and even influencing political decisions. In the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict, false narratives can shape the narrative on a global scale.

Inflamed emotions based on misinformation can contribute to the escalation of hostilities.

In a horrific hate crime, Joseph M. Czuba, a 71-year-old Illinois landlord, fatally stabbed a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in his house.

Hate speech targeting Muslims and Jews is rising as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages.

“We’ve seen a very clear rising trend of anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Semitic narratives. This hate speech ranges from microaggressions to clear threats and we’ve observed most of it happening on social media platforms,” said European Union official Marion Lalisse.

Hence, being careful in evaluating and sharing information is personal responsibility. It helps in creating a more reliable and credible information environment for everyone.

How To Avoid Falling For Misinformation

Media literacy is an invaluable skill in today's information age, especially when dealing with complex geopolitical issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict.

By diversifying sources, checking credibility, cross-referencing information, being skeptical, and understanding the context, we can avoid falling for misinformation.

Don’t Go on Face Value

Before believing or sharing information related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, take a moment to critically evaluate the content.

It's easy to be swayed by sensational headlines or emotionally charged content. Misinformation often preys on our emotions, and being cautious about what we believe and share is a key step in promoting media literacy.

“If something is really shocking, pause, avoid that kind of knee jerk reaction. Chances are there’s potentially context that’s missing,” suggests Valerie Wirtschafter, a fellow in Foreign Policy and the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at Brookings.

One effective way to avoid falling for misinformation is to diversify the sources of information. Relying on a single news outlet may expose us to a biased perspective. Reading news from reputable international sources, local perspectives, and different media formats can also contribute to a more nuanced understanding.

Who is the Source?

Before believing or sharing information, assess the credibility of the source. Misinformation often spreads through unreliable websites or social media accounts. If a source lacks transparency or has a history of spreading misinformation, we can cross-check information across multiple sources.

Cross-referencing information from multiple sources is a fundamental practice in media literacy. If a news story or claim catches your attention, seek confirmation from different outlets.

What is the Context?

Context is crucial when interpreting information about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Misinformation often thrives on presenting events out of context or selectively highlighting certain aspects.

To gain a more nuanced understanding, read background articles, historical analyses, and expert opinions. Contextualizing information helps discern the broader implications of the conflict and avoids falling for simplistic narratives.

Make No Hurry

Information travels at the speed of a click. A study by MIT researchers found that false information spreads six times faster than accurate information on social media platforms.

Before hitting the share button on a post, video, image or article related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, take a moment to reflect.

Ask yourself whether you've verified the information, considered alternative perspectives, and assessed the potential impact of sharing.

A simple pause can prevent the unwitting spread of misinformation and contribute to a more informed online discourse.