Arif Maulana, 9/3/2021
[unpad.ac.id] WhatsApp is the texting application most used by Indonesians. However, behind its popularity, WhatsApp has also become the app with the highest rate of hoax sharing in Indonesia.
Among the highest in terms of the spread of hoaxes through WhatsApp is information surrounding health. Further exacerbated by the pandemic, information surrounding health is becoming crucial knowledge that is in demand. If the information is unfiltered, users will be susceptible to receiving false information or a hoax.
This phenomenon of spreading hoaxes about health is a topic of research for a professor of Unpad’s Faculty of Communications (Fikom), Dr. Jenny Ratna Suminar, M.Si. Alongside another Unpad Fikom professor, Dr. Purwanti Hadisiwi, M.Ext.Ed., Jenny studied the role of hoax busters in filtering information about health that is spread in WhatsApp groups.
“My research started from a phenomena present in many people’s daily lives. WhatsApp is the most widely used app, so the spread of information surrounding health is most prevalent there,” revealed Jenny.
From the early research done on a number of participants, Jenny came to the conclusion that every WhatsApp user has chat groups. Moreover, some people have a minimum of 10 WhatsApp groups. This will encourage a massive exchange in information about health to happen.
According to Jenny, health hoaxes are very believable to social media users. This is more so for the 40 years and above age group. Jenny referred to this age group with the term ‘baby boomers’ or ‘digital immigrants’ on social media.
This group, Jenny says, often consumes various information about health without thinking twice, even though the information presented might not be correct. The lack of adequate literacy in social media use will easily facilitate hoaxes to spread widely.
“Indonesians very readily accept and corroborate information that has not yet been validated,” said Jenny.
With insufficient literacy, and the lack of effort in confirming the truth of said information, it will encourage people to easily believe the hoax and spread it to other WhatsApp groups.
Jenny brought up the example of many people consuming certain products that claim to be able to cure diseases, although there is no scientific source that validates the claim. In truth, information regarding health and medicine needs to be accompanied by scientific evidence.
“We often receive information, read it, and then share it without confirming it first. Furthermore, there are those who receive the information, see that the title is interesting, and immediately share it without reading the content,” explained Jenny.
The Pattern of Hoaxes on WhatsApp
The expert in health communication explained that there are a few patterns to look out for when determining whether the information is factual or a hoax.
Firstly, if the information is filled with claims of being able to cure or treat diseases while followed by sentences promoting a product, this claim needs to be delved into in terms of factuality by looking up scientific evidence.
Secondly, said Jenny, if the information is filled with calls to action to share it to other users, it can be determined that the information leans towards being a hoax.
Lastly, if the information does not cite a source, users must be wary of its factuality. Even if there is a source cited, users must still confirm its validity. It is not uncommon for pieces of information to cite the name of a doctor or scholar who, in truth, does not exist.
“If after checking the data with IDI or Google, the name does not exist, it is certainly a hoax,” said Jenny.
Jenny explained further that the level of education does not influence someone’s ability in identifying a hoax. There are a lot of ways in which groups with high levels of education might also spread hoaxes.
Therefore, Jenny concluded that a person could easily be consumed by hoaxes caused by low rates of technological and social media literacy.
Hoax Busters
The extensive spread of health hoaxes on WhatsApp have encouraged several users to start confirming the factuality of pieces of information. In the end, these groups of users can be defined as hoax busters.
In the research that she did, Jenny interviewed eight sources with every one being a hoax buster. The sources are made up of people from different professions. They range from housewives, doctors, office workers, experts, academics to retirees.
Hoax buster volunteers have an important role in preventing the spread of health hoaxes. They sacrifice their time and effort in confirming the truth of the information received. This can be done through looking up scientific references on Google, and even through the phone if the piece of information included telephone numbers.
“There are even those who volunteer to visit the addresses included just to confirm,” said Jenny.
Through their hard work, health hoaxes can be contained, at the least, in only one WhatsApp group. Although, in practice, these volunteers are also often unwelcomed by other users. Moral responsibility is the reason why these interviewees volunteered to act as hoax busters.
“They are heroes of information, because they volunteer to confirm pieces of information with quite some effort,” said Jenny.
Jenny wished there would be a lot more WhatsApp users who were aware and wanted to become hoax busters. This thing needs the effort of the youth to help make aware the groups of users who are still not literate enough.
“We need to confirm thoroughly and not hesitate to share should there be confirmation. A correct effort to validate is a must,” said Jenny.*
