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In the lead-up to the country's birthday this month, the talk of the town - and even across the Causeway - was about the "news" that wasn't.
A rumour that former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had died started circulating on Twitter at least five days before the National Day Parade, with journalists asked by just about everyone - friends, parents, the neighbourhood barber - about its veracity. And despite a couple of journalists' efforts to debunk the rumour online, it continued to spread, spilling over into the heartlands via word of mouth and SMSes.
The incident provides much to chew on, including how it demonstrated a widespread belief, misguided or otherwise, among Singaporeans that the Government would withhold important information for expediency.
Just as important, well-educated Singapore society - as a whole, as well as at the individual level - was found wanting in its ready credulity. A society susceptible to rumours is an easy target for any troublemaker, with the new media as an accomplice.
- http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120818-0000044/How-should-the-Government-handle-rumours?
A rumour that former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had died started circulating on Twitter at least five days before the National Day Parade, with journalists asked by just about everyone - friends, parents, the neighbourhood barber - about its veracity. And despite a couple of journalists' efforts to debunk the rumour online, it continued to spread, spilling over into the heartlands via word of mouth and SMSes.
The incident provides much to chew on, including how it demonstrated a widespread belief, misguided or otherwise, among Singaporeans that the Government would withhold important information for expediency.
Just as important, well-educated Singapore society - as a whole, as well as at the individual level - was found wanting in its ready credulity. A society susceptible to rumours is an easy target for any troublemaker, with the new media as an accomplice.
- http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120818-0000044/How-should-the-Government-handle-rumours?
