Which of the following is true of Internet hoaxes? a) They often contain accurate information and can be relied upon.

Which of the following is true of Internet hoaxes?

a) They often contain accurate information and can be relied upon.

b) They can cause unnecessary fear and panic by spreading misinformation.

c) They are always easy to identify and distinguish from legitimate news sources.

d) They are harmless and should not be taken seriously.

Answer: b) They can cause unnecessary fear and panic by spreading misinformation.

Hoaxes on the internet are creative plots or distortions of the truth that are widely distributed online, usually with the purpose of either fooling and/or misleading people. These lies could be disguised in many ways as for example fake news articles, typical urban tales or even by modifying photos and videos. The matter of internet hoaxes is a serious one, but some seem to be innocent and even funny. But they can have really serious consequences. The misinformation can be spread and people might act irrational, especially panic. Moreover, they have a propensity to undermine the credibility of legitimate informational sources and become a platform for fabricating stories or plunging into a vicious cycle of conspiracy theories. It is necessary to make sure you provide yourself with latest information from verified sources and be more careful about online posts, because online content might be wrong on purpose and do not reflect the genuine facts