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The recent Israel-Hamas conflict has underscored the role of social media platforms in shaping users' understanding of global events. As the conflict unfolded, millions turned to platforms like TikTok and Instagram, aiming to grasp the brutal warfare in real time. The surge in search terms such as "graphic Israel footage" and "live stream in Israel right now" reveals a growing desire for firsthand viewpoints. However, this demand for unfiltered accounts also opens the door for disinformation and propaganda, posing significant challenges to public debates about the conflict.
Platforms like TikTok provide users with intimate views of the conflict, showing poignant videos of Israeli children grappling with death's permanence and Gazans sitting amidst their destroyed homes' rubble. However, these platforms also serve as fertile ground for disinformation peddlers, conspiracy theorists, and propaganda artists. A TikTok video viewed by over 300,000 users spun conspiracy theories about the Hamas attacks' origins, falsely alleging media orchestration. Another video, viewed more than 100,000 times, displayed a clip from the video game "Arma 3" with the caption, "The war of Israel."
In response to the alarming rise of misleading and illegal content about the war, European Union officials issued warnings to major social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram-parent Meta, YouTube, and X. These platforms could face hefty fines if investigations reveal violations of EU content moderation laws. According to Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the social media watchdog group Center for Countering Digital Hate, there has been a spike in efforts to contaminate the information ecosystem surrounding the conflict. He warns that sourcing information from social media is likely to lead to severe disinformation.
As the conflict raged on, social media platforms had to grapple with a surge of misinformation and propaganda. Schools in Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States urged parents to delete their children's social media apps over concerns that Hamas will broadcast disturbing videos of hostages. Tech watchdog group Campaign for Accountability identified several accounts on X sharing apparent propaganda videos with Hamas iconography or linking to official Hamas websites. X also faced criticism for presenting unrelated videos as on-the-ground footage and for a post from Elon Musk directing users to follow accounts that previously shared misinformation.
The deluge of content related to the war, much of it in Arabic and Hebrew, tests the platforms' ability to moderate non-English content. Misinformation experts worry that widespread layoffs across the tech industry, including some social media companies' ethics and safety teams, may leave the platforms ill-prepared at a critical moment. In response to the rising tide of disinformation, X CEO, Linda Yaccarino, stated in a letter to the European Commission that the platform has "identified and removed hundreds of Hamas-related accounts" and has taken proactive actions to remove content that violates its policies. Andy Stone, spokesperson for Meta, stated that the company had established a special operations center to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving situation. Similarly, YouTube reported that its teams removed thousands of videos since the attack began, and they continue to monitor for hate speech, extremism, and other content that violates its policies.
Under the new EU law, the Digital Services Act, large tech platforms are required to prevent the spread of misinformation, address algorithmically recommended content rabbit holes, and avoid potential harms to user mental health. However, platforms that employ heavy-handed moderation risk user backlash and accusations of bias. The ongoing conflict has highlighted the dangers of the culture of over-sharing prevalent on social media platforms. Well-intentioned users may unwittingly share misleading information or highly emotional content. "Be very cautious about sharing in the middle of a major world event," Ahmed cautioned. "There are people trying to get you to share bullsh*t, lies, which are designed to inculcate you to hate or to misinform you."
As social media platforms continue to shape users' perceptions of global events, the need for responsible usage becomes increasingly clear. Users should be wary of the misinformation flooding social media and remember that proximity to a situation does not equate to authenticity or objectivity. In the end, while social media provides a platform for the articulation of diverse voices, it also presents a challenge in distinguishing between credible information and misinformation. It's time for users and platforms alike to ensure the responsible use of these powerful tools, particularly amid global conflicts.
