Fake News Circulating After the Las Vegas Shooting

 

Google and facebook commented on this issue pledging to stop fake news. They said that their algorithms should have stopped this publishing of fake news before it started. LA Times goes through many headlines about fake news, in they article concerning Google and Facebook they state that. 

"Accuracy matters in the moments after a tragedy. Facts can help catch the suspects, save lives and prevent a panic.But in the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday, the world’s two biggest gateways for information, Google and Facebook, did nothing to quell criticism that they amplify fake news"

This is an important quote and it is very true. Fake news makes hard times or tragic times worse. TI scared people and makes the people not know what to believe. this is the worst thing that can happen. Everyone and every site needs to follow the lead of Google and Facebook. The only thing we can do it try to combat fake news. This is what the American Democracy needs, the longer fake news is allowed to circulate through media the more confused ans frustrated our country will get. 

Fake news seems to follow big stories, tragedies, and politics. Fake new is a result of publishing news with out any credibility. This is the problem with the decline of the journalism profession. Journalists were regarded highly and they had high credibility. Fake news follows the most popular stories, so this news followed the Las Vegas shooting just like every bog story. This tragedy that most of the country woke up to is a story that not one ever wants to hear. It is a tragedy that breaks hearts, and just should not happen. These strokes that contain fake news are bad for the country,journalists, and the mourning country.

According to the article from the LA Times discusses fake news, it is stated that "fake news stories and false information started circulating on social media. On Twitter, rumors started spreading that multiple gunmen were responsible for Sunday's shooting at an outdoor country music festival near the Las Vegas Strip." Social media is the engine behind the issue of fake new circulation. When there is big news that happens in the society, people get on the internet and immediate start typing. Any person who has internet connection can publish and people believe it. Social media is immediate, it is world wide so everyone instantly has access to this fake news.