हिस्सेदारी - حصّےداری - Hissedari: Stakeholders for Change

Campaign Against Online Hate and Propaganda

Resources on Countering Online Hate and Propaganda

Useful sites for fact-checking or busting fake news:

https://www.altnews.in
https://www.boomlive.in
https://www.factchecker.in
https://www.snopes.com/
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check
https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com
https://www.politifact.com
https://firstdraftnews.org
https://check4spam.com
https://internews.org
https://storyful.com
Google News Initiative: https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/
Information Trust Alliance (ITA)

Rules for WhatsApp groups

Make a purpose or theme of a group – ask everyone to stick to it.
Very large groups are dangerous and unmanageable. Keep a smaller and focussed group.
Pause and think before you post anything. Ask the following before posting: (1) Is this relevant? (2) Is this necessary? (3) Is this a good time to post? (4) Is my language appropriate?
Don’t post a disturbing news unless you are 100% sure its true. Always include a link to the source where you found it or the name of the person who sent to you. If you are not sure of its authenticity, say that its unconfirmed.
Make a rule: if anyone posts a rumour or fake news (without confirming it), they will be removed from the group.
Never use Whatsapp for provoking, inciting or persuading people to immediately come out on the streets for an action. Even if there is a danger of an attack or an accident/calamity in your neighbourhood, voice-calling or real shouting may work better since everyone may not check their whatsapp messages urgently.
If someone sends you an exciting or disturbing video, meme, image or link, don’t forward it if it may lead to violence. Positive stories, video bytes or posts that promote social harmony, peace and equality are fine to share.
If some members send too many messages everyday, create a quota, i.e. 2-3 messages per day per person or whatever suits everyone.
If you do too much of debating between 2-3 people, others will lose interest and may not read important messages.
Don’t add people without asking them first. Also give them the option of leaving whenever they want to. If you have to leave a group, be polite.
Avoid lot of ‘Thank you’, ‘Ok’, ‘Great’ messages
No spamming, no advertisements
No personal messaging to a single member
No ‘Good morning’ roses everyday
Post your message or reply in one single chunk of text, not too many messages with single words or sentences.
Don’t post messages late at night – some members’ phones might play ringtones while they’re asleep.
If someone gets upset by your post or reply, either apologize on the group, or write private message to them. Its always best to call people to clarify things rather than by text messages.