Trust your country, Syrians, the worst is yet to come

After years of working in journalism, experiencing its costs, and after months of monitoring and scrutinizing the sources of rumors, how they are amplified, how terminology is manipulated, and attempts to portray Damascus as a capital of extremism through the media, and attempts to transform the Syrian people, via Facebook, into murderous monsters targeting minorities, I can confidently say that millions of dollars are spent monthly to create waves of rumors on social media, especially Facebook, targeting ordinary Syrian citizens and working to dismantle any security measures the state is building to protect the country and its people.

Unfortunately, some officials have contributed to this through ill-conceived decisions that have exacerbated the hardships faced by a segment of the Syrian population and handed the remnants of the old regime's media a ready-made platter of conspiracy theories. We will continue to expose their mistakes until they correct them or step down.

These tsunami waves of rumors have increased dramatically since the activation of the "Meta" advertising company in Damascus. Now, someone sitting behind a screen can create an advertising campaign for a fabricated rumor and pay via Visa, targeting half a million Syrians with a $500 campaign. Imagine what a million dollars can do, and the reach it provides for spreading rumors, exaggerating mistakes, and inciting unrest.

Do you remember the rumor about the American company that acquired 70% of Syria's oil? We worked tirelessly until we obtained a denial from an official source to put an end to the rumor. Do you remember the rumors about leaks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that we thoroughly refuted?

Our role remains to compel officials to deny rumors and to work to defend this wounded nation. Therefore, let us stand by the state and urge its officials to bear their responsibilities. Seek the truth, and do not be swayed by dollar-fueled rumors.

Al-Hussein Al-Shishakli