public attention because they involve uncertainty.
When a person disappears, family members may not know where they are, whether they are safe, or what circumstances led to their disappearance. Social media can sometimes help spread legitimate information quickly, particularly when authorities or family members need the public’s assistance.
But the same speed can also create problems.
A post may combine an old photograph with a new headline, use an unrelated emergency photograph, or repeat information from another social-media account without identifying the original source.
That is why readers should be particularly cautious with phrases such as:
“JUST IN”
“BREAKING”
“FOUND”
“SHOCKING UPDATE”
or
“YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED.”
These phrases are designed to create urgency, but urgency is not the same thing as verification.
Why the Age of a Missing Person Matters
When an older adult goes missing, the situation can involve different
risks than a missing younger person.
