According to a survey by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), 34 fictitious photos and films purporting to depict the conflict had 37 million views on news within seven hours of the drones being fired.
Posts from “verified” paid accounts made up 77% of the total. From these accounts, news amplifies some messages and answers so that other users may see them more easily. The confirmed ‘tick’ on the post makes some people think it is real.
According to Mustafa Ayad, the report’s author, “the checkmark, based on how Twitter previously used to work, gives that account a sense of legitimacy,” News.
The “fog of war” and the information-seeking frenzy that ensues after a breaking news event “allows these accounts to fill a vacuum of verified information in crisis events, further increasing their followings and influence,” the report states.
