NST Leader: Growing threat of fake social media accounts
THE detection of more than 1,800 fake social media accounts, with many being used to stir up issues involving race, religion and royalty (3R) should concern every Malaysian.
More than 1,800 fake social media accounts have been detected in Malaysia, with many being used to provoke reactions on race, religion and royalty-related issues, according to the NST Leader. These accounts, mostly on Facebook and TikTok, often mimic genuine figures and organizations to spread false information with the aim of causing public backlash through gaslighting techniques.
The danger lies in these accounts creating the illusion of genuine public opinion through manufactured sentiment, which can be especially harmful when dealing with sensitive topics such as race, religion, and royalty. Malaysia's diverse society makes it particularly vulnerable to such exploitation due to the strong emotional reactions these issues can provoke.
A false claim only needs to inflame enough people to create distrust and division, rather than convincing everyone. Although over 10,000 fake accounts impersonating the king, queen, and other royals were removed since the start of the year, the trend appears to continue. The online safety act of 2025 may not be sufficient for social media platforms to promptly address the issue.
Malaysians must resist the urge to immediately believe, react, and share information without verifying its authenticity. Even if a social media post has thousands of followers or appears viral, it does not necessarily mean it is authentic. In this digital age, misinformation can spread rapidly, and distinguishing between true and false content becomes challenging, especially with the aid of artificial intelligence.
However, the public has access to simple tools to combat such threats. By questioning the source of the information, checking if it is supported by credible sources, and verifying if the same information is reported elsewhere, especially in mainstream media, Malaysians can protect themselves from being misled. Platforms and authorities must continue their efforts to identify and remove fake accounts, but digital literacy and healthy skepticism are equally crucial in addressing this issue.
The central message should be clear: Malaysians should pause and consider whether someone is deliberately trying to provoke anger before reacting to something designed to upset them.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
