misinformationlatest news & developments
There is nothing inherently magical about a newspaper. Socially, sure, the beautiful thing about a physical copy is that it can be shared, passed around and collectively leafed through. But that’s not what makes it great. South Africa’s youngest news consumers are disengaging from traditional journalism.

Young people don’t relate to traditional news sources

Young people consume large amounts of news, but journalists are struggling to connect with them on the platforms and through the formats they prefer

  • Eyaaz
5 min read
One way to counteract the effects of misinformation and foster a more open-minded approach to others is by making a conscious effort to spend time in nature. (Photo by Des Erasmus)

Turn to nature to nurture better social interactions in the digital age

Survival of the fittest misunderstood and misused fuels unchecked competitiveness, which is exacerbated by social media

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
Misleading narratives are inflaming tensions between Southern African Development Community and East African Community nations.

The era of misinformation and disinformation is a global crisis

The battle against this manipulation is collective, requiring unified action from all who seek to preserve democracy and human rights

3 min read
US President Donald Trump. (File photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump order cutting aid, offering sanctuary to Afrikaners is premised on factual inaccuracies, SA says

The department of international relations and cooperation said the order failed to recognise South Africa’s ‘profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid’

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
(Photo by Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Latest Reuters report finds rising concerns about misinformation among South African news consumers

The report found that interest in politics had also dwindled among the country’s news readers

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
A city employee cleans the “Wall of the Righteous” (Mur des Justes) stamped with red hand graffiti outside the Shoah memorial in Paris, on May 14, 2024. The monument was vandalised overnight, with the president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) denouncing the act as antisemitic. (Photo by Antonin UTZ / AFP)

UNESCO warns that AI technology risks spreading Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism

The organisation’s report highlighted instances where hackers had rigged chatbots to spread Nazi ideology

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
More than 70% of adults surveyed in 25 countries perceive the spread of online misinformation, the global economy and terrorism as major threats in 2025, a new report from the Pew Research Centre shows.

Quantify news to ensure credibility in a disinformation age

Innovative solutions are needed to meet the rise and spread of fake news in Africa

  • Eyaaz
6 min read

Come elections, critical thinking skills are key to fighting fake news

As 29 May approaches, we must find a way to separate the wheat from the chaff

6 min read
How does a continent that has suffered decades of state capture and democratic decline ensure free, fair and participatory electoral processes for effective democratic governance? Technology may be the answer. (Delwyn Verasamy, M&G)

E-voting versus paper ballots

Allowing independent candidates to contest the next general election in South Africa is a boon for democracy. Prof. Colin Thakur asks if it is time to move to an electronic voting system?

  • Scott Peter Smith
5 min read
(Photo by Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Are African elections manipulated by foreign disinformation campaigns?

Elections are being held in 19 countries across the African continent in 2024. Tom Mboya considers the rise in foreign disinformation campaigns.

  • Scott Peter Smith
4 min read
Integrating social media into CBM frameworks offers a promising solution for addressing the limitations of traditional CBM tools and mitigating the rising public discontent. (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Is social media weakening Africa’s democracy?

Social media has changed the status quo in politics. In an election cycle, interaction between politicians and the electorate has evolved to near-real-time communication.

  • Scott Peter Smith
5 min read
Vector illustration

Combating deliberately wrong information that intends to mislead and misinform in an election year is a civil duty

Combating deliberately wrong information that intends to mislead and misinformation in election year is a civil duty

  • Des Erasmus
7 min read