Social media platforms have come under fire for allowing false conspiracy theories to spread about the Duchess of Cambridge. Catherine, the wife of Prince William, has been absent from public life since undergoing abdominal surgery in January, leading to both genuine concerns and unfounded claims about her health. Among them is a theory that footage of the Duchess shopping with her husband published by The Sun newspaper actually shows a professional impersonator. The theory has been widely shared on platforms such as TikTok and Twitter, despite a complete lack of evidence.
The speed with which the theory has spread is worrying commentators, and it begs questions about the responsibility that social media platforms have to address false and harmful information. The lack of regulation and the willingness to give attention to spurious unfounded claims puts individuals in the public eye at risk, and can harm their families, friends, and more widely, damage public trust.
The Duchess has been the subject of social media speculations before. A recent example was when a Mother’s Day photo released by Kensington Palace was found to have been altered before being posted. The claims about the Duchess being impersonated have the potential to be equally damaging.
Platforms such as TikTok and Twitter have been criticized in the past for allowing harmful content to spread, and their algorithms have been questioned as being too favorable to sensationalist and fringe perspectives. Exacerbating the problem, a number of users who promote conspiracy theories have Blue Ticks, which are intended to verify accounts, but that can often be purchased in exchange for content.
While the speed and scale at which disinformation can now travel is shocking, a more positive side is also emerging. Increasingly, many users are highlighting unfounded claims and circulating factual information to counteract claims based on misinformation. These circumstances put the onus on social media platforms to do more to curb falsehoods and baseless allegations
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