India, Aug. 9 -- When social media arrived, it was hailed as a treasure trove that would make everyone well-informed. But slowly, its reality unfolded. Today, nearly 70 per cent of the information circulating on social media is either fake or unverified. Clearly, forming opinions or sharing such content has become a risky affair-sometimes even landing people in legal trouble.

Despite the government introducing laws to curb fake news, its dominance persists. From politics to Bollywood and beyond, misinformation is weaponised to sling mud and shape narratives.

A recent investigative article inFalmouth University'sjournal by senior journalistDr Kit Chapmansheds light on how widespread this menace is, warning that unchecked information can ...