Social media is in danger of weakening democracy in SA, too
Online narrative manipulation tactics under the banner of free speech and association are poisoning the minds of unsuspecting South Africans, particularly those whose trust in the government borders on the nonexistent.
If not stopped, misusers of social media will (if they haven’t already) convince the public that attacks on the South African constitution are justified, that corruption-implicated officials should be defended, vigilante groups that target foreign nationals are not xenophobic, and the media should be undermined if it fails to cover the above in a sympathetic light.
Perpetrators of mis- and disinformation continue to perfect their craft, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish between fact and fiction.
In some instances, the “success” of narrative distortion is owed to the collective effort of a network of people who deliberately bombard online conversations with their “views”, while trolling anyone who challenges or disagrees with them.
But, plagued by a number of pre-existing social issues, the current South African landscape means that perpetrators of misand disinformation do not have to dig deep when identifying cracks in our society.
“Movements” such as #Operation Dudula and #PutSouthAfricaFirst have placed foreign nationals at the heart of issues such as unemployment, poverty and crime. Online accounts affiliated with the radical economic transformation faction use the shortcomings of the government to substantiate their support for officials implicated in corruption.
Adding to this is declining trust in the government, with a number of South Africans expressing concern about leaders who not only seem to have an unquenchable thirst for public funds, they also appear too slow to act on social issues.
Concerns about “comrades” stealing money intended to help the poor and vulnerable have become common, the most notable ones being around Covid-19 relief funds and the rebuilding of KwaZuluNatal
after the recent floods.
However, this should not spell doom and gloom for our nation. Used correctly, social media can be a powerful tool for participatory democracy, where citizens can hold their leaders accountable.
Being an active citizen is not limited to identifying cracks in our system, bringing them to the government’s attention and demanding accountability. It also includes participating in democratic processes such as elections, where people entrust specific public representatives with the duty to lead them with integrity.
Active citizenship also requires individuals to educate themselves about the tactics used to perpetuate mis- and disinformation, and report these to the relevant institutions.
It requires online South Africans to combat distorted information with the truth. The basics remain the same: if the source is unverified or the content seems exaggerated, scrutiny and circumspection should be applied.
The onus cannot be placed solely on the media, civil society organisations and their platforms. As University of Cape Town media studies professor Herman Wasserman said in a recent webinar discussing information disorder in SA,
“disinformation cannot go viral if people don’t pass it on”.
In a recent keynote address at Stanford University, former US president Barack Obama said: “Solving the disinformation problem won’t cure all that ails our democracies or tears at the fabric of our world, but it can help tamp down divisions and let us rebuild the trust and solidarity needed to make our democracy stronger.”
At a time when the very structures that are meant to lead, protect and inform us are under attack, there’s never been a greater need for truth and accountability.