Recently, my friend Allister posted about the recent hoax that Samsung paid a billion dollar fine to Apple in nickels. Obviously, this is quite ludicrous if you think about it, but like myself, many people fall for it when they heart it the first time.

Not only does this tell you about how sensitive society is to news that can change their opinion of a business; it shows you how easy it is for any random person to literally flip public opinion on a matter. As it gets easier and easier for people to spread rumours through social networking utilities (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), people become more and more susceptible to being infected by some false propaganda.

Another great example of this is the recent news spread about a long loved and adored snack in India, “Kurkure”. First, claims began to roar that these chips, in fact contained plastic. Then, videos began to spring up that showed people burning the chips, which would not burn, but instead melt like plastic.

http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Health/plastic-in-kurkure.html

PepsiCo has recently come out with statements and their own social networking advertisement that Kurkure do not contain plastic and are safe to eat.

These two articles are excellent examples of how tipsy public opinion is and how, with social networking, any news can be spread faster than a disease, whether it’s true or just a hoax.