In one of my philology classes at university, I remember a professor explaining to us the use of 'hyperbole' in literature. This literary device is, according to the definition of the Real Academia Española, 'an exaggeration or excessive diminution of what is being talked about, as a story or circumstance'. For example, in one of her most famous poems, Gabriela Mistral writes: 'There are mysterious kisses that have left / a thousand wandering and lost dreams', where 'a thousand' is not a real number, but an exaggeration that the poet adopts to let transpire this feeling of abundance, despair, abandonment.   

And as in literature, so it happens in our daily conversations: how many times do we complain because 'I've been waiting for ages' or 'I've called you a million times'? Hyperbole is part of our everyday language, it is culturally woven into our discussions, comments and enunciations.   

However, it can also become a harmful tool and habit when it facilitates the creation and dissemination of misinformation, through people's phrases, comments on social networks or even statements in the media. This is caused, for example, by media reports that mention exaggerated and false numbers about migrants in a given country, increasing figures about state aid or expenditures, or comparing data between countries without knowing how to interpret and teach them and without taking into account other factors such as population density, geographical position, among others.   

In this way, hyperbole becomes such a harmful resource for migrants that they are often the protagonists of these exaggerations and victims of xenophobic accusations or denominations such as 'invaders' or 'job thieves'.    

The use of hyperbole, loaded terms and inappropriate language is just one of the aspects that help us identify some kind of misinformation or not exactly accurate information. According to a guide provided by Verified - a United Nations initiative that encourages people to check and verify information before sharing it - there are other factors that help clarify the nature of the information, identifying what content is real and what is false. Among the elements related to the information shared in the media, we can highlight:     

  • The sources: some press releases may mention reports from other media to support their arguments; in this case, it is advisable to consult the primary source, to check whether the information has been quoted in a truthful manner and whether the newspaper or web page of reference stands out for being as impartial as possible or whether they tend to be characterized by opinions rather than facts. Likewise, if an article refers to third-party organizations or individuals, it is good practice to also consult the website or profile of those who are quoted, to find out if the statements match each other. In general, if a news item is disseminated by a single source (newspaper, website, individual) it may be an indicator that the information is false or misleading.    

  • The date of publication: the information shared yesterday could be very different from today's scenario, especially during the pandemic, in which we have experienced how the scenario changes from one day to the next. People - politicians, journalists, among others - who use non-recent information to argue their positions and opinions, portray a situation that is not true because it is not current and misleads their audience, which receives inaccurate information.          

  • The author: giving importance to the name of the person who has written the article and doing a little research about his/her profile and curriculum can also help us to understand not only the relevance of the information - based on the knowledge that the author demonstrates to have - but also suggests us if he/she has previously expressed unbiased tendencies and positions regarding specific topics, which could harm the neutrality of his/her report.           

  • Sensationalist language: just as in the case of hyperbole, the use of a lexicon that makes use of words intended to produce a strong emotional response, encouraging the audience to try to release feelings of anger, confusion, sadness or fear, can be an indicator of misinformation that seeks to strongly condition opinions. On the contrary, clear and straightforward writing is a sign of journalistic professionalism.         

This sample of ideas mentions some of the basic ingredients of the news that we can control to be more aware of whether we are facing some kind of false information that can arouse feelings of discomfort, fear and anger that in turn can be transformed into xenophobic and harmful reactions. 

Nowadays, people who have access to the internet can benefit daily from quick and easy access to a vortex of news, social media content or commentary. Many would argue that the abundance of content and the speed with which it is shared represent a danger for a more unconscious and easy dissemination of more unconscious and easy misinformation. However, it is just thanks to this copiousness and variety that we can learn to be critical readers, and to be able to take advantage of the amount of information we can consult to develop our analytical skills and denounce the episodes of propagation of fake news.   

In this regard, every time we read or hear some kind of data and information, let us challenge ourselves and use our critical sense to stop the circulation of misleading information. And let's leave hyperbole to poetry, not to facts. 

SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities