Its convenience and availability have made the internet perhaps the most popular form of media. But at the same time, it has also become a magnet for rumors. More than 35 percent of the respondents in a recent survey said they were not satisfied with the credibility of things they saw on the internet.

One of the most recent examples is a story about a model bus conductor in Beijing. She became famous for her outstanding service to passengers, but it was later reported on the internet that she had been arrested for taking bribes.

The "China Daily" published a commentary saying the lack of credibility and moral integrity on the part of some internet users has reduced the internet to an unreliable information source.

Of course, one can hardly expect all internet users to have sound morals and abide by the rules by not uploading rumors or pornography. But internet portals are expected to act as watchdogs to prevent such material from being published.

However, the paper points out that some editors of press portals publish sensational headlines - even for serious stories - and deliberately publish fabricated news items just to attract attention.
In conclusion, the paper warns that it is wrong to take it for granted that most internet users are easily attracted by sensational headlines.

A reader will be misled once, twice or three times, but he or she won't be misled every time. Once internet users are fed up with misleading headlines and rumors, these portals will inevitably have to pay the price.