A disclosure before one reads this – I’m not sure of some of the reported elements in this opinion piece.

Social media has always been seen as a platform where ‘fake news’ can be spread, so while it was flooded with updates, in an attempt to find credible updates about the situation between India and Pakistan, many turned to television news channels last night.

I was surfing between three channels through the night, soon after the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was called off due to a ‘significant technical failure’ (who are we kidding with this statement?). 

Each of them had a different version of the events unfolding. 

They had experts stating ‘the fact’ that India will be ‘celebrating’ by this morning after apparent strikes across the border in Pakistan. 

While social media handles and WhatsApp were abuzz with India using the INS Vikrant to attack the Karachi port, one looked anxiously towards news channels for confirmation. 

And yes, confirm they did. 

One of the news channels went to the extent of labelling it an exclusive, even though the other channels had the same news and users on social media made it viral about an hour before this ‘exclusive news’.

But what’s baffling and unfortunate is that none of the news channels had any evidence to back it. 

And some of them have retracted this 'exclusive news' in the morning. 

One of them has now stated: According to reports, the Indian Navy has not yet launched any strike but is guarding India from the sea and is ready to counter any Pakistani misadventure. 

A print publication also has the same coverage around the Karachi port being attacked.

Then there’s one that has taken what I believe is the right route – published a report with a clear distinction between 'confirmed' news and the other labelled as 'according to eyewitnesses and officials'. 

And that’s what I call for during such times. 

But unfortunately, newspapers reach us only once a day. 

Social media and its users can’t be controlled. 

So I urge news channels to take on the onus of being a credible, responsible platform and provide clueless viewers like me the correct information (or as close to it as it can be) rather than the sensationalism we witnessed last night.

(The author is founder and editor, Manifest.)