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23
May
Fake Harrogate missing boy post prompts police plea to follow 'trusted accounts'
North Yorkshire Police has urged people to follow ‘trusted accounts’ after a fake post about a missing toddler in Harrogate was circulated today.
A distressing image of an injured child was shared on a Facebook group called Harrogate, which has 52,000 members.
It said the boy had been found two hours ago in Harrogate, but police had no idea where he lived.
The post urged people to share it and provoked concern but was entirely fake. The same image has been posted on other Facebook groups across the country.
A police statement highlighted the importance of following trusted accounts to combat the spread of disinformation on social media.
It said:
We're aware that a photograph is currently being shared on Facebook, claiming to show a missing two-year-old boy in Harrogate.
This is misinformation. The post is false, but may be being spread by people who don't realise this.
If you see it, please don't share it any further.
We recommend you follow and share 'missing' posts from trusted accounts, such as official police accounts, and reputable charities like Missing People. If you see a post from someone else, try to find two or three reliable sources for that information, and check the facts before you share it.
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