Misinformation

in the Cayman Islands

What is Misleading Information?

Misleading information is content that causes someone to believe something that is not true. This can come in many forms, including advertisements, social media posts, videos, news articles, emails or even a WhatsApp message.

Misleading information isn’t just confusing—it erodes trust and can be dangerous.

Why Does Fake News Spread?

We sometimes hear misleading information called 'fake news' in the media. Fake news thrives online because social media platforms reward engagement—whether the content is true or not. The more viral something is, the more it spreads, even if it's misleading.

There are seven common forms of misinformation.

  1. Satire or parody (misunderstood as real)
  2. Misleading headlines
  3. Imposter content (fake accounts pretending to be trusted sources)
  4. Fabricated content (completely false information)
  5. False connections (clickbait headlines that misrepresent the content)
  6. False context (real content shared in a misleading way)
  7. Manipulated content (photos or videos altered to mislead)

How Fake News Influences Perception 

False or fake news has a powerful impact on public perception, particularly during elections and crises, when emotions are high, and people seek quick answers. Here’s how it can impact people:

  1. Shaping Voter Decisions: Misinformation during elections can reinforce biases or sway undecided voters. 

  2. Increases Distrust: False news thrives on controversy. Social media algorithms push sensational content, creating "echo chambers" where people only see information confirming their beliefs, causing them to distrust results.

  3. Misleads the Public in Crises: During crises—such as natural disasters, health emergencies, or conflicts—false news spreads rapidly, often worsening the situation.

  4. Undermines Trust in Experts: False news often targets scientists, journalists, and government officials, painting them as untrustworthy. 

Official Government Misinformation Alerts

The Cayman Islands Government (CIG) is aware of a number of misleading messages, scams, and sources of false news circulating online.Read more about these on our Official Government Misinformation Alerts Page.

Official Sources of Government Information

In the Cayman Islands, verified government updates come only from official sources. 

The Cayman Islands Government Official accounts include:

 

 

Learn About Types of Misleading Information 

How to Tell if Something Is True or False

It's important to look critically at content before sharing it with others to avoid spreading misinformation. There are some questions you can ask yourself when looking at content. These are:

Who is the Source?

 

  • Who wrote, paid for or sponsored the content you are looking at?
  • Is the creator an expert in the field or just someone relaying their personal experience? 
  • Is it a company or a person? Are they making money from views?

  • Do they have any credentials that show they’ve studied the topic or have worked in the field?

 

Official Sources of Information from the Cayman Islands Government

If you are not sure if the source is legitimately Government or not, there are several ways you can check:

  1. Check if web links redirect you to the official government website. Be cautious of misspellings or unusual URLS.

  2. Check if the social media account has a verification badge. How long has it been active? Government official channels have been active for years and will not have been created recently.

  3. Does the content match information from trusted sources?

Note:Government official social media accounts will never directly message you asking for personal data or information.

How to Spot a Fake Social Media Post

To check whether a social post is legitimately Government or not, take a look at some key giveaways from a false post (below):

  • If the picture is not the Government logo or crest, it is likely not the Government.

  • If the post uses an incorrect and non-government URL, check before you click.

  • If the username of the page or account is in lowercase, it is likely not Government.

  • The use of lowercase headlines means the post is likely not a Government one.

  • The Government will never ask you to 'Shop now' on a social media post.

  • If a post does not mention the Cayman Islands Government, on top of all the above, treat it with scepticism. 

How to Spot an Engagement Trap

Engagement traps are designed to exploit human psychology,keeping users hooked while often spreading misinformation,low-value content,or emotional outrage.Enraging people on social (also known as ‘rage baiting’) is a common engagement trap.

Here is what to look for to avoid them: 

  1. Emotionally Charged Content:Designed to evoke extreme anger, fear, or excitement—these posts provoke a reaction but do not inform. The best way to check for this is to ask yourself: Does the content make you feel an intense urge to react?

  2. Clickbait Headlines:These are headlines with over-the-top claims like “You won’t believe what happened next!” They can often be exaggerated or misleading. 

  3. Rage Baiting:This commonly is seen in content that paints an “us vs. them” narrative or demonises a group.

  4. Sensationalised Claims:You can see this in posts that have headlines like “Scientists HATE this trick!” or “This one secret will change everything.” An easy way to filter these out is to check whether other credible sources can verify the information.

  5. Misleading Visuals:Images or videos taken out of context to support a false narrative. An easy way to check for these is to reverse image search or fact-check with reliable sources.

We can protect ourselves from engagement traps online by engaging critically, not impulsively, and being mindful of emotional responses.

What are Deepfakes?

Images, video, audio or content that appears to have been edited to show unrelated events or information can spread spread false narratives.

AI-generated synthetic media that convincingly mimics real people, often making them appear to say or do things they never actually did, are called Deepfakes.  While deepfakes have legitimate uses in entertainment and education, they also pose ethical and security risks.

Look out for unnatural lighting or blurry facial features. Also, look for strange blinking patterns or lip-syncing issues in videos. In today’s media, seeing is no longer believing.

How to Verify a Government Social Media Post or Account

Social media can be particularly hard to verify. In general, look out for:

  • Lack of verification badges
  • Incorrect spelling in usernames, account handles or posts
  • Profile names and URLs not matching
  • Missing or incorrect profile pictures
  • Lack of links to official Government websites
  • Lack of Cayman Islands Government branding (for example, no CIG crest)

Help to Share the Truth

Sharing false information—knowingly or unknowingly—only fuels confusion. If a claim seems suspicious, take a moment to verify before hitting share. Misinformation thrives on engagement, but truth matters more.