Overreliance on Social Media for News Puts Africans at Risk of Misinformation

A recent survey by IT security firm KnowBe4 has revealed an unsettling trend that indicates a growing dependency on social media for news among African populations. This reliance reportedly leaves many vulnerable to the perils of disinformation, with 84% of those surveyed citing social media as their primary news source.

In the face of significant events such as elections, this trend poses a notable risk, blurring the lines between accurate reportage and fabricated content for many South Africans. In light of this, Nomshado Lubisi-Nkosinkulu of Media Monitoring Africa voiced concerns during a webinar by the GCIS, emphasizing the sheer volume of information and the resultant difficulty in discerning the truth.

Furthermore, the South Africa National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), represented by executive director Reggy Moalusi, is taking a stand to fiercely combat the ongoing battle with misinformation and disinformation plaguing social media platforms. Sanef together with partner organisations continues to denounce these deceptive practices and acknowledges the looming challenges in preserving the integrity of democratic processes both nationally and globally.

This environment also places brands at risk, where influencers have the capacity to sway public opinion and affect brand reputations significantly. Interestingly, the liability in promoting fake news extends even to WhatsApp group administrators, who could face hefty penalties up to R500,000 under South African law for content shared in their groups.

A decline has been observed in the usage of a certain social media platform X by brands, from a high of 90% in 2018 to 51% in 2024, according to industry surveys. Arthur Goldstuck of World Wide Worx points out that the shift is partly due to a social media traffic-over-truth enigma, which has compromised the credibility of platforms like X.

The KnowBe4 Africa survey, covering multiple African countries, shows most encounters with fake news happen on social media. Despite this, a vast majority claim confidence in identifying false information—a belief that may be unwarranted considering the quadrupling of disinformation campaigns in Africa since 2022, with foreign states often behind such efforts.

The call for a multi-faceted approach to address the misinformation crisis is backed by experts like Anna Collard of KnowBe4 Africa and Oresti Patricios of Ornico. They suggest that a combination of increased digital literacy, government intervention, and social media vigilance is essential to face the evolving challenges within the digital information space.