KOTA KINABALU: Social media speeds up everything, but its content is not always reliable.
“Today, we see a lot of political content on our devices. News, comments, videos—all readily available. However, not everything we encounter is truthful.
“In the realm of politics, perceptions can form rapidly. At times, a brief video is sufficient to influence opinions,” said former Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak in his latest Facebook post.
Salleh noted that perception does not necessarily reflect reality.
“Some things may look impressive, yet the outcomes are mediocre. Conversely, some may appear mundane, but their effects are significant,” he continued.
Salleh emphasised that social media accelerates everything, where sensational content can easily become viral, while detailed explanations are often ignored.
“Misinformation contributes to the confusion. Information that is partially accurate or taken out of context can shift our viewpoints.
“With the advent of AI, this issue becomes even more pronounced. Images and videos can seem very convincing, even if they are misleading,” he remarked.
Thus, he urged individuals not to accept information too hastily, but rather to take a moment to investigate and verify first.
“In the end, what is crucial is not merely what is visible but what genuinely transpires,” he added.
