Tanks roll across the landscape as grim-faced soldiers point their weapons into the sky. 

The footage, complete with a red "breaking news" banner, looks realistic enough. More than 110,000 people watched it live, convinced they were witnessing the first stages of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But their shock was misplaced. In fact, the video was a clip from the military-themed video game Arma 3. 

It sounds astonishing, but these hoodwinked viewers are not alone. According to a new report by OfcomThe Office of Communications regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and the postal industry in the UK. , one in three UK internet users fail to question misinformation. Incredibly, 1 in 20 believe everything they see online. 

The scale of the problem is staggering. Every minute, 695,000 Instagram stories are shared online. It can take a team of expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. up to 10 hours to verify a single TikTok video. Most adults are confident they can identify misinformation, but the Ofcom report shows that only 2 in 10 can accurately separate fact from fiction.

Children are even more confident than adults. But in reality, they are less able to spot fake news. As a growing number of children move online - 60% of 8 to 11-year-olds have a social media profile - experts' concerns about misinformation are increasing. 

Today, most people are aware of the downsides of social media, from fake news to finstas. But what about the positives? Here are five reasons why some say social media may actually be a force for good after all: 

1. TikTok learning. As Russian forces crossed the border, Ukrainians picked up their mobile phones and began filming. The resulting footage, set to dance music, reminded viewers worldwide that ordinary people were witnessing war. The owner of Instagram-famous cat StepanAfter escaping from Ukraine, Stepan's owner raised £7,600 for Ukrainian animal charities.  stopped posting pet portraits and instead shared images of missiles in Kharkiv. "Social media is an imperfect chronicler of wartime," says writer Kyle Chayka. "In some cases, it may also be the most reliable source we have."

2. Twitter experts. Retired US civil servant Trent Telenko was "flabbergasted" when his tweet about the tyre durability of Russian armoured vehicles and "the operational implications in the Ukrainian mud season" was viewed 30 million times. Social media gives academics a place to share their knowledge, from military experts to epidemiologistsA person who studies the spread and control of disease. Many epidemiologists and doctors have shared their knowledge on social media throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. . 

3. Social samaritans. In May 2021, when Covid-19 overwhelmed India's hospitals, digital samaritans used social media to find oxygen cylinders and ambulances. And young people are sharing their skills - 86% of internet users aged 16 to 24 have helped others to do things online. 

4. Personal well being. More than half of all 13 to 17-year-olds say being online is good for their mental health. Teenagers learn about healthy eating, follow fitness programmes and use mindfulness apps.

5. Digital debate. Campaigns such as #MeTooThe movement began following allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was found guilty of sexual assault in 2020. and #BlackLivesMatter help people share stories of hardship and hope for the future. In the UK, two-thirds of young adults say social media is an essential part of achieving social change.

Yes: Social media is a place where more than three billion people worldwide engage in conversation, learn about each other and improve their own lives. It has transformed the world for the better.

No: The dangers of social media are obvious. Repeated studies have proved that heavy social media use damages your mental health. Meanwhile, fake news and hate speech thrives under the radar.

Or... Moderation is key. Social media can be a site of learning and debate, but also bias and hatred. Internet users must learn how to engage with one while avoiding the other.