The fourth phase of the Misinformation Landscape Study discussion program was held on January 12, 2023, in Biratnagar, Koshi Province, organized by CMR-Nepal with the objective of increasing awareness of misinformation in the region.
The program was attended by 30 participants, including representatives of political parties, youth, students, health workers, women’s groups, journalists, and social media influencers.
During the program, participants shared their experiences of encountering misinformation in different sectors of the province. Sagar Thapa, a UML leader from Biratnagar Metropolitan City, highlighted how politics and politicians are being misguided due to waves of misinformation during elections and beyond. He noted that misinformation and conspiracy theories in politics and political agendas can have a negative impact on every aspect of Nepali life and society.
A health official pointed out that women are facing significant problems due to misinformation in the province, particularly regarding gender-biased sex selection during pregnancy. Riju Poudel, a health officer, emphasized the importance of combating such misinformation to prevent such harmful practices.
The discussion also highlighted the role of language in spreading misinformation, with concerns raised about its impact on handicapped people. Additionally, a public educator from Biratnagar in Province 1 recalled how a former minister claimed in a television interview that school textbooks had already reached all schools across the country, but he was still waiting for them in his own school, highlighting the prevalence of misinformation even at the highest levels of government.
Finally, some participants emphasized that not all information on social media is fake, and that positive information can also be shared. However, they also stressed the importance of exercising self-control when sharing information on social media to prevent the spread of misinformation.
