Before passing on a message, ask whether it is true, whether it could harm someone, and whether you are the right person to share it. Those three questions turn “be careful” into a full answer.
This lesson is part of information and digital conduct.
What are the three questions?
- Is it confirmed? Who said it, and can you check with a more reliable source?
- Could it hurt someone? Think of anyone named, any group, or anyone who may panic.
- Is it mine to share? Did the sender intend it to travel further?
Each question becomes a sentence in your answer. Question one gives your action, question two gives your consequence, and question three gives your value.
Worked example
Scenario: A classmate posts a screenshot claiming a teacher will cancel Friday’s test. No teacher has said this. Zul is about to share it in the form group.
Vague answer: “Zul should not share it because it may be fake.”
Reasoned answer: “Zul should ask the teacher before sharing because honesty includes not passing on what he cannot confirm. If the message is wrong, classmates may skip revision for a test that still happens, and Zul would be partly responsible for that.”
The second answer names the value, the action, the reason and the consequence for the people affected.
The mistake to avoid
A common slip is writing “he should check first” and stopping. That sentence has an action but no reason and no person affected.
| Step | Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Check first | Ask the class teacher |
| Reason | (missing) | Honesty means not passing on unconfirmed claims |
| Consequence | (missing) | Classmates could skip revision |
Check yourself
Scenario: A neighbourhood chat shows a photo of a stranger with the caption “thief, avoid him”. Amir has seen no evidence. Should he forward it? Write a four-sentence answer.
Answer
A full answer could read: Amir should not forward the photo because fairness means a person is treated as innocent until shown otherwise. The caption accuses a stranger without evidence, and if the claim is wrong the man could be harassed unfairly. Amir should tell the group that the claim is unverified and suggest they report concerns to the proper authorities. This protects both the stranger and the neighbours from acting on a false accusation.
The marks go to the value, the reason, the action and the consequence. Check that yours has all four.
What to study next
Continue with explaining privacy and respectful communication, then try the practice page.
If you want a teacher to review your answers on these scenarios, see online one-to-one Pendidikan Moral tuition.