Debunking is mainly effective when it comes to refuting absolute or objectifiable information. Think of the rumor about the girl who was crushed to death during the Project X riots in Haren. The police debunked the rumor, but not online. @harenlive did, and with effect, according to research . Rumors also circulated on Twitter about the possible perpetrator after an incident in Baflo, in which a young woman and a police officer were killed. The rumors were not true, after which the Groningen Police even responded directly to the spreader of the rumor: '@XXXXX The photo and name circulating on Twitter are incorrect! Stop it! Nobody benefits from that!'
Indirectly refute but instead provide counter-information on the subject. The reader is then allowed to judge for themselves whether or not the rumor is true. This is often presented as a factual account on a website, for example.
Blow over
You estimate that the impact of the rumor can do less afghanistan mobile phone number list harm than the reaction. This concerns small factual or larger but unbelievable inaccuracies. You can also apply this method if you estimate that the rumor has a limited reach or a limited lifespan. Think of removing the street signs in Haren to mislead the partygoers. A rumor that many still believe to be true. Incidentally, without this having a major effect. The truth is that the street signs were removed so that they could not serve as a trophy for the partygoers .
To confirm
Hereby you confirm that a rumor has or will arise, whereby counter information is already offered in advance. The risk is that more is released than necessary. In Wijbosch (North Brabant) a possible projectX party was also to be held. The invitation for this was circulated via WhatsApp. The police spokesperson made it clear that the police were aware and were on top of it. At that time it was not yet clear how many recipients had received the original message. The intention of the police was very clear: to signal early and prevent it from happening.
Finally: it's part of it…
Rumors are part of everyday life, whether it concerns economic news or the weather forecast: rumors arise. Crisis management is no exception. Properly monitoring rumors can be of great help in forming an image of an incident. It shows possible atmospheres and potentially provides some explanation. Dealing with rumors is and remains particularly difficult. The impulsive reaction is often to immediately debunk them. This does indeed tell how something really is, but the question of whether the effect of the rumor is nullified remains. Early recognition and acting after a balanced assessment is the key to keeping the effect small.
Photos courtesy of Fotolia.