The world community is being appalled by the appearance of Covid-19, all countries seem to be in a mess by this invisible but happy creature.
Leaders collide with what to do and how for the security of their respective countries. Likewise Indonesia, various policies were implemented, such as the implementation of social distancing (social restrictions) in order to hold the pace and localize the spread of Corona Virus. This is considered capable of breaking the chain of the virus.
Panic, anxiety, and fear arose among the people. Not a few of them were parno towards this case. Information from social media whose truth is still vaguely believed to be truth and trusted by the public, even to the point of spreading the message again. Suddenly those who are laypersons will be easier to believe, and increasingly cause anxiety and fear.
As recently viral in the Mamuju area, West Sulawesi. Postings on one of the online news portals on Facebook made the people of Mamuju uneasy, the article said that Mamuju now entered the red zone because there was a positive community infected by Corona in Makassar from Mamuju.
“Mamuju has become a red zone because positive patients in Makassar have Mamuju ID cards being isolated independently at their homes, whose address is unknown and where.”
This post received 372 likes and 125 comments and was shared 282 times.
Many people are easy to believe and immediately share without cross checking first. But not a few people are also upset because they consider the post unclear source so it cannot be accounted for.
Thus the greatness of social media, not only plays a role in the dissemination of information, social media is very effective in influencing the attitudes and behavior of readers. Everyone agreed that the presence of social media has brought many changes to people’s behavior.
Medsos has brought families apart for many years, not just hearing news through voice, longing for being separated can be treated by meeting via videocall. Facebook, Instagram, Line and WhatsApp do make it easier for us to get the information we need. Social media has made communication between humans is no longer insulated by the boundaries of space and time.
But the problem will be different, if the social media that is worshiped by many people becomes an agent of spreading false news and a source of public unrest especially in the midst of a pandemic like now.
Almost every day social media is livened up with various information about Covid-19. Almost every day we are also presented with content that cannot be accounted for especially when it comes to information about the spread or data of victims exposed to viruses. Of course it will be scary for anyone who reads it.
What actually happened to the community and +62 citizens? I do not know what possessed you as if it’s easy to spread the news that is not necessarily true? Didn’t parents teach us to be honest from childhood? Don’t we often hear that teachers at school often teach the virtues of being honest that have become the hallmark of a civilized society? Don’t we often hear stories that Indonesia is known as a polite society? But the fact is there is no hoax not crowded.
Hoax now seems to be a meal of Indonesian society, especially during the co-19 pandemic. Many news circulating good news, bad news or just limited rumors related to Covid-19. The truth hasn’t been proven. But as if the community is competing to spread the information without thinking about whether the news is true or false? What effect will it cause?
It is important to be vigilant and wise in responding to provocative and sensational news. It is important for social media users to get to know the form and characteristics of news hoaks. It is important not to be a whistleblower, to the detriment of others. It is also important to protect yourself from the spread of disinformation as it is important to comply with the policies set by the government in an effort to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Let’s Fight the Hoax Virus and the Covid-19 Pandemic for Success in Handling the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic, from now on we care for optimism by destroying the Covid-19 hoax that misleads and impedes the completion of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tika Ibrahim, the writer is Chair of the Makassar Regional Independent Social Media Activists Forum
