Influencers need 'urgent' training on fact-checking, says Unesco

Social media influencers need urgent help to check their facts before they broadcast to their followers, in order to reduce the spread of misinformation online, Unesco has warned.

- Dan Milmo

According to a report by the UN's educational, scientific and cultural organisation, almost two-thirds of content creators fail to check the accuracy of their material, making them and their followers vulnerable to misinformation. Unesco said its findings underlined the need for media and literacy teaching to help shape their work.

"The low prevalence of fact-checking highlights their vulnerability to misinformation, which can have far-reaching consequences," the report said. Six out of 10 creators said they had not verified the accuracy of their information before sharing it, while the research found creators generally didn't use official sources such as government documents and websites.