The Australian bushfire crisis has shown the best and worst of social media
Facebook fundraisers have raised millions, Instagram influencers have urged their followers to donate, and Twitter has been mobilised for causes like FindABed. But social media has also been used to spread misinformation and scams during this bushfire crisis, Marnie Vinall explains.
During the current devastating bushfire crisis in Australia, social media has played a key role in our response as a country. As the nation-wide disaster continues to unfurl, it’s been instrumental in disseminating coverage and bringing us together.
But social media has also shown us its worst. While much-needed fundraisers have raised millions for those in need, damaging misinformation has also spread and deflected from the voices we need to be listening to.
Insightful commentary. Devastating to see how easy it is to turn the public’s attention in an alternate direction.