Fake News and Major Events

Sydney Walters

sw844317@ohio.edu

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting was one of the most horrific events in the United States in recent memory. Unfortunately, these major shootings and terrible events have ravished our world over the past decade, and with them, we've seen an increase in fake news associated with these events. From these mass shootings to the Covid-19 pandemic, one name has consistently been thrown around as the perpetrator of these events. 

Sam Hyde

If anyone has followed the Twitter world or even news platforms, the name Sam Hyde is likely a familiar sight surrounding many tragedies in the past several years. In reality, Sam Hyde is a YouTuber and comedian. In the media and Twitterverse, Sam Hyde is usually the first suspect of mass shootings and even the person responsible for the spread of Covid-19. 

After a shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, TX, the Sam Hyde hoax found its way into the mainstream media. While being interviewed regarding the event, Vicente Gonzalez, a representative from Texas, told CNN that the gunman was Sam Hyde. This interview was broadcast on a news platform that is commonly the first place people go during moments of crisis. Although it was quickly rectified when the real identity was released, this mishap further ignited the distrust in the media. 

Major Crisis and a Distrust in Media

Social media hoaxes like this are dangerous and could damage an innocent person's life. These events also perpetuate a distrust in the media. In the moment of a significant crisis, the media and people placed on the media (like politicians and government officials) will report these hoaxes as facts to provide people with the most up-to-date information. When the facts are finally revealed, the media platforms will need to reverse their statements, which always creates distrust in the media.