With Manitoba wildfires continuing to grow, those affected and concerned citizens are anxiously seeking fast, up-to-the-minute information.

“There’s a tendency among folks that’s just natural to want to be in the know and to spread a piece of information that seems novel or seems important,” says Jared Wesley, political science professor at the University of Alberta, “but unless you are re-tweeting or reposting something directly from a government agency, you could become part of a misinformation campaign unintentionally”

During such emergencies, governing agencies as well as first responders choose direct forms of communication to send their message using phone alerts, door-to-door notices and social media.

But a dangerous side effect of this urgent need for news is the rapid spr

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