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30 March 2016

Last weekend in the media hundreds of news items were published about the alleged death of a Salesian missionary. All the information originated from a homily in which the death of the religious was reported as certain. 

The news was published on the web and spread in the media throughout the weekend. Unfortunately this happened without its being verified from official sources, and in a few hours this word had spread across the five continents. It was replicated on Facebook and Twitter and some television channels officially announced the death of the priest at the hands of terrorists.

It seems that these communicators are more interested in highlighting the spectacular nature of a situation, in this case "a priest murdered on Good Friday, like Christ", than in getting to the truth of the matter. The consequence of this type of information is that it can become a time bomb, which first causes confusion on the social network and then fear among people, especially since it seemed that the message had come from trustworthy people who were close to the situation.

In the dynamics of the social networks each of us is the protagonist of the dissemination of information. The course a story will have depends on each of us. Sometimes a "like" is enough for all our friends to receive immediately a notification that we have found something that is relevant for us.  It is therefore advisable to take some precautions before you give credit to everything that appears on your page, but above all, before sharing information with our "friends" on the network.  Communication experts advise that we pay attention to the veracity of the information and verify first-hand sources, especially when the dignity and, even more, the life of a person depends on the news. If in doubt, do not repeat the message.

Before we replicate a particular news item on our page, we must be aware of the consequences that the position we have taken in its regard entails for our "network of friends". If we want to be considered trustworthy people, we are obliged not to follow the logic of confusion and despair, and even less to spread fear among people. As producers and multipliers of information, our goal is always to follow the logic of respect and truth. As the Holy Father says: "For there to be peace in a community, in a family, in a country and in the world, we must begin to be with the Lord. Because where the Lord is present  ... there is fraternity. We ask this of the Lord, that we may never kill a neighbour with our tongue."

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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