Feb 11, 2017 09:25 AM EST By Jordan Pine, UniversityHerald Reporter

Tim Cook thinks that fake news is a major problem that merits the attention and support of the government and technology firms. The Apple CEO wants to start with educating children since they pay more attention and try to understand like how they ask parents to stop discarding plastic bottles which can be recycled.

It appears that Cook has time to dabble with socially-relevant issues with the newest Apple product lines launching this year. The man who wields the power in Cupertino has spoken about fake news in an impassioned plea addressed to the government and tech firms.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Cook says that unscrupulous reporters and sites proliferating false news are "killing people's minds." The growing epidemic requires immediate actions from the government to launch a massive campaign that is similar to a modern public-service announcement.

It could begin with an education campaign covering all demographics though he admits that children may be easier to educate. Children listen more and try to understand than most adults who are prone to make sweeping judgments or believe what they want to believe.

Cook likens the education campaign to how environmental issues were taught. Once children understand the problem, they pass their knowledge to their parents with stricter requirements. Children have contributed tremendously to the recycling of plastic bottles by simply stopping their parents from discarding them.

The Apple big boss also urged other tech firms to get out of the "complain category" and start acting. Facebook is already taking a few steps to stop fake news by bringing the quality of the article to the attention of the reader before this is shared, MacRumors has learned.

However, Cook says that the problem does not have a simple solution. The crackdown to false reporting should not trample on people's freedom of speech and free press.

As to what Apple will be doing in line with Cook's impassioned plea, no details have yet been disclosed. However, it is more likely that the Cupertino giant will spearhead the movement lest the company is touted as only in the "barking category."

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