The public needs to be able to separate fact from fiction

In political communication, there is an issue called “illusory truth effect”, which happens when repetition of misinformation makes people more likely to accept a big lie as a truth.

Through media outlets and co-ordinated networks, Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian tropes and conspiracies are circulated. Eventually, they become regarded as social facts, especially in times of war, conflict and heightened political tensions.

Since 9/11, two billion Muslims globally have faced collective punishment. The ubiquity of Islamophobia has led to generalized stereotypes of Muslims as being prone to violence and terrorism.

Moreover, when racist narratives are espoused by politicians, they falsely instill fear and moral panic about the Muslim presence in this country and elsewhere.

Public belief in the vilifying narratives of violent Muslims can become second nature to people who watch biased news reports on mainstream media and a variety of social media platforms that circulate anti-Muslim narratives.

Widespread Islamophobic sentiments translate into anti-Muslim policies and practices. Harassment of Muslims, discrimination, killing of innocent people and ordinary citizens just because they are Muslims, etc. are only small part of the actions that the misinformation of people and Islamophobia creates for Muslims.

In the end, during these dystopian times, the public needs to be able to separate fact from fiction as fabrications masquerade as truth. The consequences are dire.

Source: Theconversation.com