Between memes and lies: The dilemma of CiberCuba's visual identity in the face of fake news

Since its founding, CiberCuba has worked to establish itself as a news reference both inside and outside the island

Fake news with the identity of CiberCubaPhoto © Created with AI, Sora

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Since its founding, CiberCuba has worked to establish itself as a news reference both inside and outside the island. Today, this privileged position is confirmed not only by the number of readers or the impact of our news, but by something deeper: our image has been absorbed by Cuban popular culture.

The proof lies in the fact that every day we see memes, parody news, humorous montages, and even political satires that mimic our aesthetic, logo, and presentation format. Far from being uncomfortable, this flatters us and makes us happy, because it shows that CiberCuba has transcended its simple informative role to become a recognizable symbol of the Cuban public conversation.

The news format from CiberCuba that many are copying.

This phenomenon can be explained through communication theory and branding: when a brand becomes culturally appropriated, its visual and discursive elements become part of the social language. Just as the "blue check" of Twitter or the typography of CNN evoke credibility and timeliness in the global arena, in the Cuban context, the color, typography, and graphic structure of CiberCuba have become immediate synonyms for news and debate. The vast majority of Cubans react automatically upon seeing our distinctive blue or the layout of our publications, confirming the depth of that recognition.

The dark side: Fake news and brand attacks

However, this prominent position also brings with it considerable risks. The same strength of our brand that makes it a reference point is exploited by malicious actors to spread false news or misleading messages disguised with our visual identity. The outcome is concerning: a portion of the public, especially those who see the posts outside of their original digital context, believes that this news has actually been published by CiberCuba, which can impact the perception of our credibility.

Golden rule: if the news does not appear on our platforms, it is a fabrication.

This phenomenon pursues two clear objectives:

  1. Create confusion and debate: The use of our format to publish fake news often aims for immediate virality. The audience quickly gets engaged, either to praise or to question the news, and the mere appearance of being "official" lends credibility to topics that are, in fact, false. This erodes the line between information and misinformation, making it difficult to discern what is real and what is not.
  2. Directly attacking the reputation of CiberCuba: The strategy also aims to tarnish the CiberCuba brand, undermining its value as a reliable media outlet. The logic behind this is straightforward yet harmful: who pays attention to a media outlet that publishes false news? Although those publications do not come from us, the appearance of authenticity confuses part of the audience and indirectly damages our image.

How can you tell if content is genuinely from CiberCuba?

It's simple: you should always consult the primary source of information. Our authentic publications are only disseminated through our official platforms. To verify the accuracy of a news article, check these channels:

You can follow us on any of these channels to stay updated on the Cuban reality, with news that is fact-checked and verified by our team of journalists.

Golden rule: if the news does not appear on our platforms, it is an invention.

What to do if you find a false post?

In these cases, we ask you to report the post to help us stop misinformation. Here we explain how to do it depending on the social network:

  • Facebook: Click on the three dots (…) of the post > Select "Find help or report post" > Check "False news".
  • Instagram: Tap the three dots (…) in the upper right corner > "Report" > "It's false information".
  • TikTok: Tap the share icon > "Report" > Select "False Information".
  • YouTube: Below the video, click on the three dots (…) > "Report" > Select "Misleading Information".

Your collaboration is key to maintaining informational integrity and protecting the value of a community that trusts in the truth.

Our commitment

In this context, CiberCuba upholds and strengthens its commitment to truthfulness, transparency, and the fight against misinformation. We invite our readers to always verify the original source before sharing any news and to follow our official platforms to ensure they receive accurate and responsible information.

The cultural appropriation of our image is a clear symptom of our impact and leadership. We are proud to be a Cuban news icon, but we also caution against the dangers that this entails and renew our efforts to protect the trust that millions of Cubans have placed in us.

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