Social media has changed the way of seeing information positively or negatively. In the past, only newspapers, television channels and radios provided appropriate information on global events. These media had standardized procedures for verifying the facts to confirm the information in order to control each information disseminated to the listeners. They also have regulators who hold them responsible in the event of “ fake news ”, defamation or slander .
However, the public was wary of traditional media because some of them were politicized. Following the massive use of smartphones and loss of confidence in traditional media, users are turning more and more to unregulated online sites and blogs to learn. With the popularity of social media, more and more individuals have created their own online information site and influential blogs to earn money and make themselves known. This new confidence in social media has become a weapon of disinformation, because these online media quickly disseminate information, without regulators and without standardized procedures. Consequences: they sometimes report unaccussional information which can be "click baits", harmful and misleading for the general public. These information manipulations stir up dissensions on tribal, religious, political and health issues.
The Ebola virus epidemic and its effects are a perfect example of disinformation
Information has been disseminated to cure Ebola virus, speaking of a “magic remedy” based on water and salt. This remedy, allegedly approved by eminent personalities, led to deaths and clogged the emergencies. During the COVVI-19 pandemic, more than 33 false information was stammered on social media ( 33 Misconceptions Peddled on Social Media ) about the origin of the virus and the vaccine. This episode has strongly demobilized citizens to be vaccinated.
“Before the 2019 elections, rumors circulated around the death of President Muhammadu Buhari ( President Muhammadu Buhari Had Died) . The latter would have died while he was on medical leave in the United Kingdom and had a lining in Abuja in Sudan. ”The news was aimed at harming his candidacy but it turned out to be false. It turns out that the president campaigned, won, completed his mandate and passed the hand successfully. During the same general elections of 2019, unknown sources claimed that the Defense Movement of LGBTQ (LGBTQ Rights Movement ) in Nigeria had supported the candidacy of the former vice-president Mr. Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa), standard bearer of the Democratic Party . People of the same sex during his first 12 weeks in mandate .
Some organizations have mobilized against disinformation and have created fact verification platforms, forming journalists and educating the general public on the danger of manipulation of information.
The FactcheckHub is an independent organization of fact verification and non -profit created in 2018 by the Center for Democracy and Development . Although Factcheckhub covers information in West Africa, it is mainly concentrated in Nigeria because of its large population and characteristic disinformations.
Factcheckhub undertakes to promote digital culture, critical thinking and verification of facts in order to allow citizens to make decisions knowingly.
Factcheckhub played an essential role in managing the problems related to disinformation in Nigeria, checking the contents of public and political blogs; especially during electoral periods. The Center for Democracy and Development has institutionalized the War Room Election , which played a decisive role in the fight against disinformation, the activities of harmful actors as well as on electoral violence during the general elections of 2023.
Idayat Hassan ( Idayat Hassan The Director ) , the director, said during the presentation that
“The team already monitors all political actors, press bodies, security agencies, factors, the electoral arbiter and all the other stakeholders. Our weekly notes will provide Nigerians with verifiable information on possible disinformation points, will give an overview of controversial and disputed questions and will prepare citizens for the waves of disinformation expected in the political arena. In this crisis room, our goal is simple: to make this most factual election in the history of Nigeria. No weapon, only facts! ”.
This shows that Factcheckhub and “the War Room Election” are there to guarantee free and fair elections.
In addition to verification of the facts, Factcheckhub is devoted to public education on the use of the facts of verification of the facts and on the dangers of disinformation. He commits and trains journalists on how to check the information using moderators on their various platforms. These actions significantly made it possible to reduce violence during the last general elections of 2023, as the population was able to verify the false information which would have normally led to violence and political inertia.
In Nigeria, the fight against disinformation is not a health walk, because the ground is favorable to tribal and religious prejudices, political tensions during electoral periods and health manipulations.
Since its creation, in 2018, the association has encountered important obstacles in the mitigation of disinformation, such as inadequate financing and lack of confidence in the traditional media linked to a low digital culture in the country. The association attacks linguistic barriers by providing facts of facts in the three main languages of Nigeria, namely Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The challenge remains because Nigeria has more than 520 languages.
Despite these setbacks, Factcheckhub played a decisive role in the fight against disinformation in Nigeria by denouncing false affirmations and promoting digital culture, in particular during the 2023 elections. Its appropriate activities and updates made it possible to expose false stories, to demystify the " fake news " and to promote critical thinking within the population. The organization aims to federate a Nigerian population better informed through citizen and collaborative training.
Due to the diversity of Nigeria, the fight against disinformation requires a collaborative and global approach as well as the investment of all structures. Although initiatives such that Factcheckhub has made significant progress in the fight against disinformation by demystifying false stories and promoting digital culture, the site is substantial because beyond religious, tribal and political considerations are added inadequate funding and digital illiteracy. In order to educate the informed population via the mastery of the media. This is why a collaborative approach involving government institutions, technology companies, civil society, educational organizations and religious organizations is relevant to build an informed population and master the media.
Charity Ani Kosisohukwu
