Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, online rumors have taken the opportunity to make a comeback.
Many of them are video pictures, text descriptions, and background sounds, which make people believe it if they are careless.
In the era of short videos, a little bit of editing of videos and pictures can make up a rumor that is "enough to be true".
This short video, called "Internet Rumor Version 2.0", is confusing the majority of netizens, and has become the hardest hit area for rumors in areas such as social hotspots, public policy, and epidemic news.
rubbing hot rumors
Rigidly imaginary
"Big explosion in Ukraine!" In a video, smoke billows from the top of a building in the distance, and fire is faintly visible.
A few seconds later, a violent explosion filled the sky, worrying.
However, some sharp-eyed netizens found a white high-rise building in the picture somewhat familiar.
The reporter's research found that this was the video of the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.
In August 2020, a huge explosion occurred in the Beirut port area, the magnitude of which was equivalent to an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale.
In another video, multiple planes lined up in formation and passed neatly in the somewhat gray sky, giving people a sense of tension of "big army pressing the border". above".
Suspiciously, wires and tree branches appear in the background from time to time, indicating that the plane is flying very low.
If it is really a fighter jet in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, this flight altitude is too dangerous.
By comparing the online video, it can be found that this video was actually taken in May 2020, and it was a flight rehearsal before the Russian Victory Day military parade.
The most outrageous is a video called "Kyiv Air Defense Alert, Fired Back at the Russian Army".
Flashing objects continued to rise in the night sky, accompanied by roaring background sounds, which were spontaneously spread by many netizens.
Although the scene is very realistic, it is only a simulation screen of a game and has nothing to do with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
social rumors
Distorting details out of context
The international situation is changing, social hotspots are also emerging one after another, and the public focus is constantly shifting, and online rumors have found the soil for growth.
"Family pay attention! A friend from a water plant called. In an emergency, tap water should be injected with chlorine gas. For boiling water, cooking water, etc., you need to take the water out in advance and let it sit for more than two hours before using it." Seeing the family group A "special reminder" forwarded by aunt, Xiao Jiang sighed.
Since the epidemic, family groups that are happy to share various "new discoveries" and "new research" in life have frequently appeared in the name of the epidemic.
It is hard to tell whether they are true or false, but they always arouse a heated discussion among the elders in the group.
From intuition, the so-called "water plant friends" this time sounds unreliable.
When Xiao Jiang searched the Internet, he found that it was a rumor that had spread across the country two years ago.
Water groups in Beijing, Tianjin, Changsha, Dalian and many other places have also refuted rumors about this.
"Old people tend to believe this kind of life-related content with the attitude of 'would rather believe it'." Xiao Jiang sighed, and when the rumor was upgraded to a video version, it was "conclusive" directly at the camera, It's even harder for older people to tell the difference.
And those video content has a certain credibility, and it is more difficult to identify rumors that only some of them are taken out of context or even misinterpreted.
Zhang Wen's child just started primary school in September last year. What impressed her was that a video screenshot was circulated in the parent group, with the words "Starting from March 1, 2022, schools and teachers can Educate and punish students who violate discipline! Including punishing students, restricting students from participating in group activities, and even expulsion!"
Out of curiosity, Zhang Wen conducted a search and found that the relevant documents have indeed been issued and implemented, called "Primary and Middle School Education Punishment Rules (Trial)".
Looking at the full text, "restricted participation in collective activities" and "expulsion" are also mentioned, but they all have very specific and strict conditions.
In the video, these contents have been ignored intentionally or unintentionally. Coupled with the pictures of elementary school students and the music with a strong sense of urgency, it is inevitable to give people a sense of "aggressive" educational punishment.
"This is a higher-level rumor, and it is easy to distort cognition if you don't think about it."
Video Rumor Identification Guide
How can you see flowers in the fog?
In fact, short video rumors are not impeccable, you only need to master a few tricks and familiarize yourself with a few characteristics to easily identify them.
Feature one
Details are unclear Information is unclear
Although short video rumors are often presented as "latest news", they lack the basic elements of factual presentation. Key information such as time, place, and parties are either ambiguous or deliberately blurred, and the details cannot stand scrutiny at all.
As for the news of official institutions, these key information must be explained first.
Feature 2
Screen horror text sensational
Generally speaking, in order to avoid the discomfort of viewers, videos released by regular institutions will avoid images that are too shocking.
However, in order to spread rumors videos, they will select the most exciting shots and the most sensational texts. The information is often divorced from reality and has a huge sense of contrast.
Feature three
Poor quality screenshots
In the 5G era, whether it is video or pictures, "high definition" has become the basic configuration.
Rumored videos often have blurry pictures and incomplete screenshots. Some videos don’t even have simultaneous sound, relying solely on dubbing and subtitles.
After thinking about it for a few seconds, the viewer will understand that the purpose of such a "low pixel" is to blur the information.
Feature four
Zhang Guan and Li Dai are mysterious
Rumor makers use a video, or even a movie or game screen, with new text or commentary, and it becomes a "new story".
But as long as you look carefully, you can find clues or doubts.
For example, what is claimed to be happening in China, but a foreign language appears.
is saying
No need to "rush" to let the "bullet" fly for a while
Ma Xiangwu, a professor at Renmin University of China, believes that rumors will exist for a long time with social development.
"The media and channels of communication are becoming more and more extensive, and it is difficult to completely eliminate and curb rumors."
Compared with the rumors that were mostly spread by words and pictures in the past, the rumors in recent years have also been dressed as "videos".
In Ma Xiangwu's view, if the previous rumors are still "version 1.0", video rumors can be called "version 2.0".
They are more difficult to produce and more "technical", which will make it easier for people who are not familiar with video editing related skills to believe.
As the old saying goes, "Rumors stop at the wise", and although there are many forms, the methods for deciphering rumors are very basic.
Ma Xiangwu said that a major feature of rumors is "ambiguity".
The units, characters, etc. involved are often vague, intentionally concealed, or simply false.
In addition, the audience should pay more attention to the subject of the news release.
If there is a specific reference, you can compare, verify, and think with official releases and authoritative media.
If it is impossible to take the initiative to refute rumors for a while, cold treatment can also be taken.
In the face of an event that subverts cognition, don't be too busy to be "shocked", don't be in a hurry to forward it, and might as well "let the bullets fly for a while."
Rumors are rumors, and as long as you wait for a while, the truth will be revealed.
Our reporter Wu Nan Wei Jing