This is a must read article from Ben Werdmüller where he concisely conveys the problem around fake news1 and also presents how different players in the system can contribute in their own way.
How can trust be regained by the media, and how could the web become more credible?
There are a few ways to approach the problem: from a bottom-up, user driven perspective; from the perspective of the publishers; from the perspective of the social networks used to disseminate information; and from the perspective of the web as a platform itself.
Social networks have to play a big part, changing their outlook, their perspective to the problem is important. And that is one aspect that is discussed the most. However, the other players in this - we the users, the publishers and the web as a platform will also have to play a significant role if this increasingly painful blight is to be addressed.
It was really fascinating to read Ben talk about the web - in his words “a peaceful, decentralized network of human knowledge and creativity, designed and maintained for everyone in the world”. That is perfect. As I had shared recently as part of another post, it is high time the web, and the gateways to the web, introduce more ways to capture the context from the readers and present the same in a simpler manner for all the future readers. A link can stay contextless, but it is important that the information it lays out is vetted by every one who consumes it.
It is welcome to see that groups like W3C Credible Web Community Group already exists and even the established players are getting involved to build a “more credible web”.
I like the usage of words “false information online” better↩