The online war we are all in

Social media is a battlefield

Image created by Midjourney

It’s been an extraordinarily difficult twelve days. We’ve witnessed harrowing scenes from Israel and Gaza that are almost impossible to comprehend. Unspeakable acts of violence have followed the unprecedented deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, and the subsequent declaration of war by Israel that has seen Gaza bombed, water and aid cut off and an order to evacuate. Thousands of lives have been lost and millions fear what comes next.

While it is those in the region that are bearing the brunt of this brutal war, the ramifications are being felt far and wide. An information battle is unfolding online, with the Jewish magazine Tablet arguing that social media “has now become a field of war”. They are right. The conflict has overwhelmed the platforms that billions use every day. Much of it is informative, illuminating and provides a needed outlet for grief, anger, fear and despair. But propaganda and dis/misinformation are thriving alongside more subtl…