OPINIONISTA: A user’s guide to combating disinformation — how to take on dark forces By William Bird
Disinformation is an increasing problem not just because we don’t know the scale of it in South Africa, but also because it poses a fundamental threat to our democracy. It needs to be fought across a range of parameters and from different angles.
At Media Monitoring Africa , we are working with social media platforms. We recently ensured that networks of Twitter bots up to mischief were removed, along with others which were actively spreading disinformation. For all our faults, we will soon have elections, where you might be revolted by the options before you. But with 48 parties, surelymight jingle your bells sufficiently for your X? The beauty is that we have 48 options, and nobody can force you to vote for anyone you don’t want to.
What does all this have to do with disinformation and the public? Well, quite a lot, actually, because they will use all manner of tricks and devices, from offering rewards to using agents to attract attention to their silver-tongued techniques. The lines between spin, bias, propaganda, misinformation and disinformation will be muddied and in many cases obliterated.
So use this to play the politicians’ predictable game: When you read a story about a party see if you can predict what they will say based on who they are and what they stand for. Currently, we have “load shedding” and “accounting irregularities”. The terms seek to mask what is really going on: Power cuts and grand scale-theft and corruption. It isn’t that load shedding is made up — indeed we know “load shedding” to be more than spin; it has disrupted our ability to function, messed up routines and reduced productivity.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
OPINIONISTA: Liberté, égalité, fraternité provide the core values of new partyA new political party, the Capitalist Party of South Africa, was launched at in Johannesburg on Sunday, 17 March. In the weeks between now and the election, this column will document how the party came about, what needed to fall into place, how people were brought on board, how the ideas were brought to life.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Christ in the Christchurch Mosque Massacre: Islamophobia and decolonised ChristianitySome Christians very subtly endorse the increasing frequency of Islamophobic incidents. I’d like to challenge the dogma behind this by unpacking some stories and themes from their Bible.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Adam Habib’s search for a pragmatic radicalismAfter reading Rebels and Rage, it is apparent that what author Adam Habib wants is a kind of pragmatic radicalism that can make real and sustainable changes. He wants to avoid Wits going the way of the University of Durban-Westville, or Zimbabwe or Venezuela. His model is more like Sweden or Germany, a workable compromise rather than scorched earth.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Consumer rights: Why a new motor code will strengthen SA car owners’ rightsConsumers can welcome a proposed new code that will empower car owners with the right to repair or service their vehicles at a provider of their own choice without voiding their warranties. It is a much-needed change that is long overdue, but some in the industry with entrenched monopolistic interests are resisting these changes.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex enough without the shoutingEquating Zionism with racism is far too easy a way out of proper debate around the roots of the conflict in the Middle East, and Israel Apartheid Week serves to exacerbate rather than defuse the tensions. The time has come for rational debate in an attempt to find common ground between the two opposing sides, rather than slogan-shouting.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Dear Elders, the ANC won’t listen to anyoneYour letter to the corrupted and tainted comrades on the governing party’s lists was heart-warming for it evoked an ANC of old – one in which the elders are decorated with the Isitwalandwe/ Seaparankwe award and venerated.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Our embassies must operate as business centresIt is time for South Africa to take its position in the international community through progressive economic diplomacy.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: The state of education from a teacher’s perspectiveWhere and when did what go wrong with our education system? Teachers are more vulnerable today than ever before.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: The DA is the only party that can fix the Eskom messAs the country has once again been plunged into darkness as a result of ANC mismanagement and corruption at Eskom, it becomes clearer that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC has no intention of bringing about real change. Moody’s is scheduled to make a decision on South Africa’s credit rating on 29 March. A downgrade is looking increasingly likely.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Of Untethered Monsters and Vanquished AccusersDonald Trump has been investigated and found not guilty of collusion and we must accept that as the way it is.
Read more »