LIKE FARMING

The term “like farming” is defined in the Oxford Dictionary of Media and Communication as

“The cynical practice of creating a Facebook page with popular or viral content, such as heart-rending but bogus appeals for support with a plea to ‘share this’, in order to use it for posting ads and links when the likes reach a substantial number (or to sell it to someone else for the same purpose).”

Like farmers use several methods to persuade people to share pictures:

(1) People are persuaded to feel sorry for a person or animal (see above) and share their picture, usually via an emotive appeal, such as, “I bet I won’t even get one share!” These images are generally taken from elsewhere on the internet and used without the permission or knowledge of the person who first shared them, so you cannot encourage them by sharing their picture.

(2) A like-farming page shows a picture of someone who is seriously ill (often a child) and says that Facebook will pay a certain amount of money (usually £1 or $1) for that person’s treatment every time the post is shared. They won’t! Again, the photo will have been used without the person’s permission.

(3) A like-farming page posts a picture of something that can be won by sharing the post and/or commenting on it. It’s usually something expensive, such as a car, camper van or even a house. In this case, a page is often set up specifically for this “promotion.” No one will win anything.

Before sharing anything on Facebook, it’s worth checking its origin to avoid being exploited by like farmers.

If you’d like to learn more about like farming and how to spot it, I recommend this article by Hoax-Slayer. This organisation has its own Facebook page as well as a web page and provides a lot of useful information on internet hoaxes or scams.

Photo credit: Alejandro Arango (Creative Commons)

[1] Chandler, Daniel, and Rod Munday. “like farming” in A Dictionary of Media and Communication. Oxford University Press, 2020.

LOCKDOWN

“People over 70 have been grappling with the possibility that they could face an extended coronavirus lockdown after general restrictions end, filling them with fear and frustration.”

 The term “lockdown” isn’t new, but COVID-19 has given it new meaning. Current dictionary references to lockdown mention confining prisoners to their cells during a riot and isolating or resticting access to a place because of a dangerous situation.

 Since COVID-19 appeared, we’ve used the term “lockdown” in reference to measures taken to avoid spreading the virus, especially in relation to the new rules related to travelling, meeting with others and closing places that involve unnecessary contact between people. This is strictly a partial lockdown: most of us can still go out but only for certain reasons and normally only once a day. For others, and especially where people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the lockdown is total, as illustrated in the last of the following examples.


 Examples

 “The big weekly shop has made a comeback with supermarkets reporting record trolley loads as Britons develop new lockdown routines.”

 “Shops in cities and towns across the UK have been closed since lockdown measures were introduced.”

 “A total of 27 people – 17 residents with dementia and 10 staff – have been in lockdown for five weeks.”


Photo credit: byronv2 (Creative Commons)

SELF-ISOLATING

“The number of fire staff affected by the virus has increased

 with some 3,000 fire and rescue staff now self-isolating.”

 The terms “self-isolation” (noun) and “self-isolate” (verb) were submitted to the Collins online dictionary between late January and early March this year and have only recently been published in it. They still haven’t been published in the free online Oxford or Cambridge dictionaries.

 Based on the dictionary definition, to self-isolate is to isolate (quarantine) yourself because you have, or suspect you have, a contagious disease, such as COVID-19; it also means to remain alone.

 Based on guidelines published by the UK government and the National Health Service (NHS), the term “self-isolation” is reserved for people who have, or have been living with someone who has had, COVID-19.


More examples

 “The letter has also raised concerns about the ‘narrow spectrum of symptoms the UK is using as an indication for self-isolation.’”

 “He was discharged from Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 10 April and has since been self-isolating in their Woodgate home.”

 “Her heartbroken parents were then told they would have to go home without her to self-isolate for 14 days.”


 In reality, the term “self-isolation” is regularly being used to describe social distancing. It’s also being used by or to refer to people who are isolating themselves because their age or underlying health conditions make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. However, another term has been introduced for people in this category: shielding.

 “Vulnerable residents shielding from coronavirus in Lichfield and Burntwood are being urged to register for help if they need it.”


 Summary:

 Social distancing – taking steps to avoid spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus). This should be practised by everyone, regardless of their age and health.

 Self-isolating – staying at home and avoiding any contact with others because you either have, suspect you have, or have been living with someone who has COVID-19 (coronavirus).

 Shielding – avoiding contact with others because you are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 (coronavirus) due to age or underlying health conditions.


 Photo credit: Marc Roberts (Creative Commons)