Last night was a challenging one for Iranians. For the first time since the end of the eight-year war, the skies over Iran saw widespread flight by hostile aircraft, and Iranian air defence lit up the skies over cities once again. In some areas, the unpleasant sound of warning sirens was heard for the first time.

From the very first moments that news of Israel’s attacks on Iranian soil broke out, as with any similar event, rumours and unverified news quickly gained momentum. In this misty environment, compounded by irresponsibility and lack of professionalism in the Iranian political/military information system, the role of responsible reporting becomes even more crucial. Each of us, as citizens, can play a part in dispelling these rumours.

It’s important to remember that much of the so-called “urgent news” and military/security analysis—primarily seen on social media and in media outlets that cover crises unprofessionally—are not coincidental or accidental. Today, more than ever, every political event and military incident inherently includes psychological warfare and information battles. It’s almost unimaginable for any military or political action to occur without both sides leveraging information and rumour-mongering as part of the conflict.

Unfortunately, in the midst of this, certain media outlets and media figures act as loudspeakers without considering their credibility, professionalism, or role. They rush to publish every fleeting thought or unverified claim as if competing in a nonexistent race to be first. Some of these pseudo-journalists cheerlead these rumours and parrot slogans from the side they favour without regard to reality. Others, claiming insider knowledge or anonymous sources in Clubhouse sessions, repeat every bit of gossip to their audience without any ability to fact-check. Claims such as “my friend saw twenty Israeli planes coming from a certain direction,” or “two hundred planes are flying over Iran right now,” to “our air defences – mid-operation – downed all enemy missiles” are heard, along with worse claims attributed to “informed sources”—often just old friends repeating misinformation out of either following an agenda or sheer delusion. It’s crucial that we, as consumers of information, remain cautious and discerning in the face of such unverified claims.

These rumours, almost universally devoid of credibility during events, do more than cloud the information landscape. Such behaviour has long-term effects. Imagine a worried family in an Iranian city, reaching out desperately for news about their safety. They come across a circulating, baseless rumour that their area or city will soon be targeted. Beyond the potential for this to spur irrational or possibly dangerous decisions at the moment, consider a child witnessing their parents’ fearful and vulnerable expressions. Such experiences can leave an emotional scar that stays with them for years. This is the gravity of the situation we face when irresponsible reporting takes hold.

Our generation, bearing memories of war and the days of missile and bomb raids on cities, understands this concept well. Many of us who were children during that time still wake up, even thousands of kilometres from Iran and years later, to nightmares of bombings and the faces of our loved ones haunted by those hard memories. It takes a moment to realize it was only a nightmare—a memory that still shakes our sense of peace after years and miles.

While it is primarily the responsibility of national officials to mitigate this psychological crisis—by using their extensive information network in these moments—where were the spokespeople for military, emergency, and government forces last night who could at least provide people with a semi-reliable source? Moreover, there are unprofessional or self-serving media personalities who, without understanding the significance of responsible reporting in a crisis, will publish anything, no matter how absurd or unrealistic, simply for clicks and attention.

But you and I also bear a responsibility. Once the peak of the incident has passed, there will be ample time for speculation, analysis, and debate. During the crisis, however—when not even the most professional and well-informed analysts may fully grasp the situation—no one is waiting for my or your analysis, which only fuels the rumour mill and risks making us an unwitting pawn for one side. Our unsupported messages and unverified news could become part of a tragic chain of events affecting a portion of the population. Every rumour that you and I refrain from sharing helps disrupt the vicious cycle of crisis and anxiety.

In today’s Iranian media landscape, both inside and outside the country, credibility has been gambled with to such an extent that it’s hard to refer to them in times of crisis. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to identify a few trustworthy sources among them. Look for outlets that verify their information before publishing, provide context to their reports, and refrain from sensationalism. These are the ones you can rely on in times of crisis.

Despite our limited individual power to shape the course of events, we can ensure that our behaviour in times of crisis doesn’t add further worry for the people. In a time when Iran grapples with daily crises, and when each of us may have leanings toward different perspectives, we must prioritize the mental well-being of children above all else. Let’s be cautious that our anger, worry, excitement, or frustration doesn’t burden their developing minds. We may need to guide them in coping with bad news without hiding the truth, helping them face it in a manageable way. You might interested to read “How to Talk to Your Children About War.”

Just as a small mistake in a crisis can lead to widespread damage, a correct decision can have a positive, far-reaching impact beyond our imagination—a wave set in motion by a bit of patience and the restraint to refrain from spreading rumours. I urge you to share this message with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can promote a more cautious and responsible approach to sharing information in times of crisis.