AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
MORE than half of young Africans don’t trust Facebook or WhatsApp. A quarter has been victims of social media bullying while than others think the world would be better without social media, data from a newly-released groundbreaking survey has shown.
Results from the African Youth Survey (AYS) also show that despite an increasing usage of social media, African youths are concerned about the impact of fake news “disinfodemic”.
The AYS, commissioned by the South African-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation, indicates that 50% of those polled across the study also deem WhatsApp as untrustworthy. Over half believe WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, to be less than trustworthy in South Africa (52%), Nigeria (56%) and Kenya (66%), with more than one third reporting similarly in Ghana (35%).
According to AYS, nearly seven in ten (67%) of the over 4,200, 18-24 year old African men and women polled across 14 Sub Saharan African nations suggest that fake news affects their ability to stay informed. Almost four in ten (37%) believe fake news affects them a “great deal.”
Worryingly, over half (54%) of those polled claim social media is their main source of news, with only broadcast television serving as the medium for which more of Africa’s youth consumed their information (72%).
A recent UNESCO report further indicates that while African nations continue to implement social distancing and travel restriction measures to avoid the further spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease, false information [regarding unproven remedies] spread on social media channels such as Facebook has some commentators now referring to the new avalanche of ‘fake news’ that has accompanied the outbreak as a ‘disinfodemic’.
In addition to concerns from public bodies over the rampant and uncontrolled spread of misinformation regarding COVID-19, the AYS indicates there is continued susceptibility to the dangers of fake news, which has long been a purveyor of often hate speech and even xenophobic violence.
Data from the AYS show that young Africans are already experiencing the negative impact of social media-driven ‘fake news’. One quarter (25%), know someone or have personally been the victims of online bullying. When asked, nearly one quarter (22%) of Survey respondents thought the world would be better off without social media entirely.
A majority (59%) of AYS respondents report using their smartphones for three or more hours every day, with social media being the “most important” app-type for almost nine in ten (89%) respondents. One in three young Africans spends more than four hours a day online, while over half (53%) report that they use their smartphones, and 54% specifically rely on social media, to read and share news.
In Gabon and Senegal in particular, smartphone use was the most popular method of news consumption (79% and 73%, respectively). Conversely, across the entire African Youth Survey, only 26% suggest they stay informed through traditional news mediums such as newspapers and magazines.
Almost nine in ten (89%) suggest that social media applications, primary hubs for the spread of misinformation, often veiled as ‘citizen journalism’, including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, are the most important on their smartphone; ‘News’ apps were deemed most important by only 21% of the population surveyed.
Many global brands including companies such as Starbucks, Ford and Patagonia have joined the ‘Stop Hate for Profit’ movement, pausing advertising on social media as a reaction to the way social media platforms are handling misinformation, with Facebook the main target.
This movement comes on the heels of mounting criticism of the platform for failing to police news content. In response, Facebook announced an effort to check news content on its site in various African languages. This measure followed a movement in some African nations, such as Kenya, to criminalize “fake news.” Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has continued to resist calls to better police content.
The Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg has adamantly suggested the “…future will be built in Africa”, with the African Youth Survey’s findings reporting agreement that the 21st century will be the African century. Moreover, one in ten young Africans (and one in three Nigerians) believe Zuckerberg himself will be the figure likely to have the biggest impact on Africa over the next five years. The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, garnered 9% of the vote.
Ivor Ichikowitz, philanthropist and chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, stated: “Our Survey results are alarming and reveal that our continent’s young people are particularly vulnerable to a growing fake news disinfodemic. Africa’s youth are relying on social media as a top source of news, despite being aware that fake news is rampant and impacting their ability to stay informed. Facebook and WhatsApp are failing in their duty to protect its users and in Africa, it’s clear that social media companies have a much greater responsibility to act against fake news and those spreading hatred and racial discourse. Failing in taking the required action could lead to instability, that has the potential to shake the fabric of our societies, and test the strength of our democracies and our continent’s leadership.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a great opportunity for the purveyors of fake news. As we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic we must also strengthen our fightback against the disinfodemic. While Facebook must act fast and aggressively against the perpetrators of hate, we all must learn to be thoughtful, patient, and question the source of news and verify its validity, before acting on it or sharing it”.
