We all must do our part to stop spread of misinformation
On social media, it's not uncommon for rumors to run wild.
On many occasions, at the Butler Eagle we come across what seems to be exciting or other times tragic news, only to discover — before sharing it with our own readers — that it isn't true at all.
Last week, we saw a viral post about a brown dog named Charlie who supposedly lives in Mars. The post said he suffered from vinyl chloride poisoning as a result of the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
When looking into the claim, we found many iterations of the post and had conversations with veterinary clinics that cast doubt on its validity.
Bedonna Erdlen, practice manager at Cranberry Township Veterinary Hospital, said she regrets that someone created a post showcasing “Charlie” and his alleged illness.
She said several clients called the veterinary office on Feb. 6 with concerns about how the vinyl chloride released in the derailment would impact their pets. Since Feb. 3, no pets have been seen or treated for unusual symptoms or any illnesses veterinarians think may have resulted from the derailment.
On other occasions, we've seen posts circulate on Facebook about scares at Walmart, including one that alleged a child was taken from a shopping cart.
The post said police were contacted. But when we contacted the police ourselves, we learned they had no report of the incident.
In another instance, the Butler Township police went as far as to make an official statement saying a Facebook post was not true.
We work hard to ensure everything we share with you is fact — as a newspaper, it’s our job. We work to dispel rumors and curb the spread of misinformation.
But the responsibility to share truthful information falls on everyone who clicks the “share” button on Facebook, or the “retweet” button on Twitter.
Before clicking that button, which is so easy to do, check your source or reference a reliable news organization.
— TL
