Alligator in Vechta: The video is a fake - who is behind it?

Alligator in Vechta: The video is a fake - who is behind it?

Vechta, Deutschland - in Vechta has caused a supposed alligator viewing for excitement, but it turned out to be through and through. The turmoil began when a video of a young man circulated, which was supposed to show an alligator in a rain retention basin. But as stern.de , it turned out that the video was recorded in a different place. The city administration of Vechta had commissioned IT experts to examine the video. They identified environmental details that clearly demonstrated that the recording could not have been created in the specified area.

Although the authenticity of the video was first affirmed and even a live trap had been set up to ensure the possibly viewed animal, the young man later admitted to the city administration that he had not made the video himself. At the beginning he had emphasized the authenticity of the clip, but the alleged evidence turned out to be a fake. "We had to carry out the measure of the barrier to ensure both the security of the citizens and the well -being of the animal," said Mayor Kristian Kater (SPD).

The whole episode throws light on the subject of fake news, which is more relevant than ever in times of social media. As ndr.de , the spread of false reports on the Internet is a real problem. Fake news can not only affect texts, but also pictures, videos and sound recordings that are presented in a different context or even manipulated. The spread of such content is increased by artificial intelligence and social bots, which also makes it difficult to recognize false reports.

fake news and manipulation are by no means new, but have gained influence in the digital world. Today's users have to be vigilant, and media literacy is essential to prepare themselves against such false reports. This includes critically questioning information and checking various sources. With the rise of algorithms that determine what content we see, we are often caught in so -called filter bubbles. As a result, we largely ignore the alternative perspectives in a one-sided information bubble, as well as Medienkompass.de

In Vechta, it remains to be seen what legal consequences the young man has to expect and whether this excitement stimulates the public to deal with information more critically. It is a fundamental challenge of our time, in which media literacy and awareness of digital manipulation have to take a decisive status.