{"id":7481,"date":"2021-02-08T07:10:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T06:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=7481"},"modified":"2021-02-08T07:11:24","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T06:11:24","slug":"fighting-misinformation-on-twitter-intricacies-of-twitters-latest-pilot-feature-birdwatch-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/fighting-misinformation-on-twitter-intricacies-of-twitters-latest-pilot-feature-birdwatch-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting Misinformation on Twitter: Intricacies of Twitter\u2019s latest pilot feature \u2018Birdwatch\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The preponderant influx of misinformation on social media and its injurious effects on audiences have been a prominent drive for fact-checkers in the campaign against fake news and misinformation. Consequently, leading social media organisations such as Facebook and Twitter are growing in an awareness of the need for swift strategies to counter the surging flanks of fake news on their platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">It is in light of this that Twitter has recently launched what it named&nbsp; \u2018Birdwatch\u2019 \u2013 a community-driven tool that relies on the social network of users to provide context to tweets that appear misinforming or lacks details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">As Twitter explained,&nbsp;\u201cBirdwatch allows people to identify information in Tweets they believe is misleading and write notes that provide informative context. We believe this approach has the potential to respond quickly when misleading information spreads, adding context that people trust and find valuable. Eventually, we aim to make notes visible directly on Tweets for the global Twitter audience, when there is consensus from a broad and diverse set of contributors. In this first phase of the pilot, notes will only be visible on a separate Birdwatch site. On this site, pilot participants can also rate the helpfulness of notes added by other contributors. These notes are being intentionally kept separate from Twitter for now, while we build Birdwatch and gain confidence that it produces context people find helpful and appropriate. Additionally, notes will not have an effect on the way people see Tweets or our system recommendations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The evolving nature of Twitter\u2019s policies&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Although there is a novelty associated with the Birdwatch feature, this is not the first time Twitter is deliberately stepping up its efforts to combat misinformation on their platform. In the third quarter of 2020, the social media company announced its intentions to thwart election-related misinformation by banning or tagging complicating content about ballot tampering, election rigging, election results and other similar issues. Twitter\u2019s action, which follows a similar initiative announced by Facebook in almost the same period, establishes the thread for a rising battle between the social media companies and misinformants who have been sharing misleading information and false claims about voting and other diverse topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/fighting-misinformation-on-twitter-intricacies-of-twitters-latest-pilot-feature-birdwatch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Continue reading here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FACT CHECKS OF THE WEEK&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/video-claiming-covid-19-vaccines-weaponised-to-depopulate-the-world-eliminate-africans-false\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Video claiming COVID-19 vaccines weaponised to depopulate the world, eliminate Africans false<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">A 30-second video going viral on social media claims there is a plan to eliminate Africans through vaccines. In the video, a witness named Dr Robert O. Young who was answering questions from a set of panellists said there were too many people in the world and\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/OzZTrBSj8lq58tU__95YRzq6C4jmiY-r92h5emBs0R6DpB9V2-sms1_hXPu8psvkzy-6lFPMo9c-ODhX6a0MtK4z6Wgdr1_fwh4G6pxi27SF5Uw60inDSBXUGCJYRoLvxZ6WZU2e\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/claim-that-fg-is-offering-n10500-weekly-as-covid-19-second-wave-grant-is-a-fraudulent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Claim that FG is offering N10,500 weekly as COVID-19 second wave grant is a fraudulent<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">A certain web-based message going round on WhatsApp claims that the Federal Government is offering&nbsp; N10,500 weekly as COVID-19 second wave grants. How true is this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/orjAP-yjXUtZjC0aZbLKidMjnBA39TS5kFnbwHkqRq_G-mRNrg2yvz6lke0dKkSQBlYqDwtNNo8_FGKwYottMFHKV6eV4ntzN6yiU_YSsOOg5yn6QUwWY9ori5ZO19-58Z2YsUww\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/what-secrets-do-the-bvn-hold\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What secrets do the BVN hold?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">A WhatsApp Message claimed that an exposed BVN does not give a fraudster access to your money; they\u2019d instead, get information such as Name, Date of Birth and Phone number&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/YZGCjRtp0lPch1NyBiMd-WWNdWktF_3nuqg7BSnQld3B2vMZ4NQKsthISiZM2HQRmk5baTrPvLC84r_bdW5gDqh6BEVeW2MpoWAt4qmHKEVOyemfZC9-06FmvdLZygm9FcVkG5X0\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">QandA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>What is the correct way to wear your face mask?<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">There has been a longstanding misconception about which side of the mask should face out while in use. For this reason, Dubawa researched and <a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/what-is-the-correct-way-to-wear-a-medical-mask\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">found<\/a> that the coloured side (whether blue or green) should be outside but if the mask comes in one colour for both sides or all white, then the feel of the material should be used to determine which part should be out. For such masks, the softer part should be inside as it is the moisture absorbent layer while the rougher part should be outside as it is the moisture-repellent layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">It is not advisable to use mask ear loops as a determinant for the direction of your mask as they are not consistent. While sometimes the straps are attached to the outside layer, other times the straps are attached to the inside layer. A video on how to properly wear a surgical or medical mask is also available <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/QvFGBiL6tUc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Is there a Nipah Virus outbreak in China?<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">While it is true the Nipah virus exists and has a fatality rate of between 40% to 75%, it is not a new virus and it <a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/nipah-virus-how-true-is-claim-there-is-a-new-virus-outbreak-in-chinatown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">did not originate from China.<\/a> The WHO noted the virus was first reported in&nbsp; 1999 in Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Coronavirus infection count&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: Total cases may be more than officially stated owing to the inability to include unconfirmed cases. Stay safe<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip of the week&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/D-wHMQDtfefOfR5mpyOeG57H6xaNdJGeMzw4ou07SvwzNVgKH76yQghe3QLa4BgRPJws_v0uaF8-QlsSWBILMsa6EbtqokyF2SFVn9MKro5g2hgQWcxCpoU36tUL8BqOZ4nM1bqu\" width=\"602\" height=\"601\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#FakeNews Alert&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Nigerians who have used Ivermectin may be immune to COVID-19 &#8211; Neuroscientist (SOURCE: WhatsApp Message)<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/rwSfbYcPymfhKMNBvq921YibuMd_28Y_SC8rDln39bKTCIweY8wkzdR-GPvPxcogO-Ov1UsVNDOSeCP4eogQUC9A2u0C3RfrBgjNh40Ea7WxVsFrQE0CKkKMwzfT-DVlIypxAdcp\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>\u2018A neuroscientist, Dr. Chidi Njemanze, says majority of Nigerians have developed strong immunity against COVID-19 and might not need the Pfizer\/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines expected in the country by the end of the month.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The above is an excerpt from a Punch report recently shared on WhatsApp. It claims Nigerians have no use for the available Covid-19 vaccines. While we can&#8217;t, at the moment, ascertain the post\u2019s truthfulness, Dubawa advises desisting from sharing this unverified message further.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Fact-checks\/Articles&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/nimc-not-offering-n10000-5gb-data-to-old-sim-users\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIMC not offering N10,000, 5GB data to old sim users<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/what-you-need-to-know-about-new-covid-19-health-protection-regulation-signed-by-buhari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What you need to know about new COVID-19 health protection regulation signed by Buhari<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/six-major-misinformation-subjects-nigerian-fact-checkers-battled-in-2020-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Six major misinformation subjects Nigerian fact-checkers battled in 2020<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/fighting-misinformation-on-twitter-intricacies-of-twitters-latest-pilot-feature-birdwatch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fighting Misinformation on Twitter: Intricacies of Twitter\u2019s latest pilot feature \u2018Birdwatch\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/websites-promising-whos-500-euros-5o000-election-committee-jobs-are-fraudulent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Websites promising WHO\u2019s 500 Euros, 5O,000 election committee jobs are fraudulen<\/a>t<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/consuming-ewedu-will-not-cure-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consuming ewedu will not cure COVID-19<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/what-is-the-correct-way-to-wear-a-medical-mask\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What is the correct way to wear a medical mask?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/true-non-respiratory-symptoms-such-as-loss-of-appetite-abdominal-pain-confusion-could-also-be-symptoms-of-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">True! Non-respiratory symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain, confusion, could also be symptoms of COVID-19<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/who-did-not-approve-covid-19-herbal-remedy-with-black-pepper-powder-ginger-juice-others-as-ingredients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WHO did not approve COVID-19 herbal remedy with black pepper powder, ginger juice, others as ingredients<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/scammers-use-ailing-teenagers-pictures-to-defraud-people-diverting-needed-help-from-family\/\">Scammers use ailing teenagers\u2019 pictures to defraud people \u2013 diverting needed help from family<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The preponderant influx of misinformation on social media and its injurious effects on audiences have been a prominent drive for fact-checkers in the campaign against fake news and misinformation. Consequently, leading social media organisations such as Facebook and Twitter are growing in an awareness of the need for swift strategies to counter the surging flanks of fake news on their platforms. It is in light of this that Twitter has recently launched what it named&nbsp; \u2018Birdwatch\u2019 \u2013 a community-driven tool that relies on the social network of users to provide context to tweets that appear misinforming or lacks details. As Twitter explained,&nbsp;\u201cBirdwatch allows people to identify information in Tweets they believe is misleading and write notes that provide informative context. We believe this approach has the potential to respond quickly when misleading information spreads, adding context that people trust and find valuable. Eventually, we aim to make notes visible directly on Tweets for the global Twitter audience, when there is consensus from a broad and diverse set of contributors. In this first phase of the pilot, notes will only be visible on a separate Birdwatch site. On this site, pilot participants can also rate the helpfulness of notes added by other contributors. These notes are being intentionally kept separate from Twitter for now, while we build Birdwatch and gain confidence that it produces context people find helpful and appropriate. Additionally, notes will not have an effect on the way people see Tweets or our system recommendations.\u201d The evolving nature of Twitter\u2019s policies&nbsp; Although there is a novelty associated with the Birdwatch feature, this is not the first time Twitter is deliberately stepping up its efforts to combat misinformation on their platform. In the third quarter of 2020, the social media company announced its intentions to thwart election-related misinformation by banning or tagging complicating content about ballot tampering, election rigging, election results and other similar issues. Twitter\u2019s action, which follows a similar initiative announced by Facebook in almost the same period, establishes the thread for a rising battle between the social media companies and misinformants who have been sharing misleading information and false claims about voting and other diverse topics. Continue reading here. FACT CHECKS OF THE WEEK&nbsp; Video claiming COVID-19 vaccines weaponised to depopulate the world, eliminate Africans false A 30-second video going viral on social media claims there is a plan to eliminate Africans through vaccines. In the video, a witness named Dr Robert O. Young who was answering questions from a set of panellists said there were too many people in the world and\u2026 Claim that FG is offering N10,500 weekly as COVID-19 second wave grant is a fraudulent A certain web-based message going round on WhatsApp claims that the Federal Government is offering&nbsp; N10,500 weekly as COVID-19 second wave grants. How true is this? What secrets do the BVN hold? A WhatsApp Message claimed that an exposed BVN does not give a fraudster access to your money; they\u2019d instead, get information such as Name, Date of Birth and Phone number&#8230; QandA What is the correct way to wear your face mask? There has been a longstanding misconception about which side of the mask should face out while in use. For this reason, Dubawa researched and found that the coloured side (whether blue or green) should be outside but if the mask comes in one colour for both sides or all white, then the feel of the material should be used to determine which part should be out. For such masks, the softer part should be inside as it is the moisture absorbent layer while the rougher part should be outside as it is the moisture-repellent layer. It is not advisable to use mask ear loops as a determinant for the direction of your mask as they are not consistent. While sometimes the straps are attached to the outside layer, other times the straps are attached to the inside layer. A video on how to properly wear a surgical or medical mask is also available here. Is there a Nipah Virus outbreak in China? While it is true the Nipah virus exists and has a fatality rate of between 40% to 75%, it is not a new virus and it did not originate from China. The WHO noted the virus was first reported in&nbsp; 1999 in Malaysia. Coronavirus infection count&nbsp; Note: Total cases may be more than officially stated owing to the inability to include unconfirmed cases. Stay safe Tip of the week&nbsp; #FakeNews Alert&nbsp; Nigerians who have used Ivermectin may be immune to COVID-19 &#8211; Neuroscientist (SOURCE: WhatsApp Message) \u2018A neuroscientist, Dr. Chidi Njemanze, says majority of Nigerians have developed strong immunity against COVID-19 and might not need the Pfizer\/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines expected in the country by the end of the month.\u2019 The above is an excerpt from a Punch report recently shared on WhatsApp. It claims Nigerians have no use for the available Covid-19 vaccines. While we can&#8217;t, at the moment, ascertain the post\u2019s truthfulness, Dubawa advises desisting from sharing this unverified message further.&nbsp; Other Fact-checks\/Articles&nbsp; NIMC not offering N10,000, 5GB data to old sim users What you need to know about new COVID-19 health protection regulation signed by Buhari Six major misinformation subjects Nigerian fact-checkers battled in 2020 Fighting Misinformation on Twitter: Intricacies of Twitter\u2019s latest pilot feature \u2018Birdwatch\u2019 Websites promising WHO\u2019s 500 Euros, 5O,000 election committee jobs are fraudulent Consuming ewedu will not cure COVID-19 What is the correct way to wear a medical mask? True! Non-respiratory symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain, confusion, could also be symptoms of COVID-19 WHO did not approve COVID-19 herbal remedy with black pepper powder, ginger juice, others as ingredients Scammers use ailing teenagers\u2019 pictures to defraud people \u2013 diverting needed help from family<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[4,440],"tags":[347,935],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[873],"class_list":["post-7481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-newsletters-updates","tag-featured","tag-newsletter"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-1WF","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":873,"user_id":10,"is_guest":0,"slug":"dubawa","display_name":"Dubawa","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f70a877f6d81734de0ca299eabb33d20687f41f5a4cb83ae8d754fc9412ee293?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":"Strengthening Investigative Journalism for the fight against corruption in Nigeria."}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/weekly-newsletter.jpg?fit=1000%2C603&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7481"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=7481"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=7481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}