Online rumors dangerous to social order
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People's Daily, November 4, 2011
Not long ago, Tianya forum carried a post titled "Man with Incurable Disease Kills Eight Village Officials Whom He Believed to Be Evildoers," claiming a young man from Yunnan province brutally murdered eight officials at the local village committee.
This story was quickly reposted on many other websites and forums and attracted great attention of the media and netizens. However, it was quickly discovered that the story was a complete fabrication.
The rapid spread of the story from Tianya to many other websites and forums, including Xiqinhuiguan, shows the dangerous potential for rumors to spread online.
Given that this made-up story was unimaginably strange at first glance, and people can easily find many loopholes after a quick read, how did it spread rapidly online and cause quite a stir in the Chinese Internet community?
Other recent popular false stories include: "Armored Car Robbed near Houyanqiao in Dalian. One Person Killed," and "Middle School Girls in Hunan Kept as Lovers by Local Officials and Wealthy Men. Girls Get Paid 500 RMB per Month." People cannot stop wondering why there are so many rumors on the Internet.
The Internet serves as a "double-edged sword." Some just enjoy the convenience and the right to speak while being completely blind to related responsibilities and obligations they should assume. It is normal for us to publish articles, express petitions and spread information online, but some have used the Internet to slander others.
Every Internet user should be aware that their online remarks and behaviors should also comply with national laws or the Party's disciplines and the online practices, such as spreading rumors or sullying others' images, will also be subject to punishment. Publishing "groundless" posts or blindly "following," "supporting" or "evaluating" such posts are no longer an issue of freedom but are closely associated with responsibilities. Perhaps, if you blindly "support" a post, you may eventually hurt others and even damage the credibility of first-tier organizations.
Everyone should resist cyber "violence," such as creating rumors and tarnishing the images of others. We can only be free to "surf" the Internet in a healthy and positive Internet environment. Once cyber "violence" is rampant, who can ensure that they themselves or those they care about will not become victims of cyber "violence?" The recent sixth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Party has called for the development of a healthy Internet culture, which depends on the collective efforts of Internet users not to create, believe in or spread rumors.
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