OFFSTONE | JUNE 2021 | FKP USIM

34 The Importance of Relevant Communication Why do we need to ensure that relevant messages are shared especially in an era of crisis like today? Generally, we want to ensure that there is no misunderstanding of the message that could bring danger to society. Messages about the need for vaccines, for example, need to be accurate as misinformation about this relevant information may provoke panic and fear among citizens. Miscommunication will then lead to failed communication that can cause stress to members of the community which can eventually have adverse effects on the mental, not to mention many who are already distressed by the effects of this pandemic. Second, in Islam, it turns out that ensuring a relevant message is very important to avoid harmful slander. Defamation can occur because of ineffective communication, whether intentionally or unintentionally. However, defamation that results from deliberate communication is something that can be avoided and must be avoided. If done too, this is sinful in the eyes of Islam. The easiest platform to spread irrelevant information is social media. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research showed that social media did indeed have a significant impact in spreading fear and panic related to the COVID-19 pandemic with Facebook as the primary medium. This study also showed that 18-25-year-olds have psychological anxiety problems as a result of frightening communication in this era of crisis. Related to this, we are aware that Muslims do devote a lot of time to online activities, according to Professor Gary Bunt author of the book Virtually Islamic and Islam in the Digital Age. According to Bunt, this even makes a blurred boundary between real physical activity and online activity. Thus, it becomes so pertinent that we remind each other to check the authenticity and even the relevancy of the information received before sharing it with others: “O you who believe, if a wicked person comes to you with news, then investigate (to determine) the truth, so that you do not inflict on a people something undesirable because of your ignorance (about it) so that you regret what you have done” (Al-Hujurat: 6).