Wherever part of the world you are in, you cannot deny that you had your own experience of being stereotyped. This could be due to the race, religion, or subgroup you belong to. The list of reasons is endless. A person can be typecast and judged for the mere color of his or her skin, or hair, or eyes. But when the facts are already bent, and the world is starting to get misinformed about who and what you really are, this is another story. This should call the attention of the person being misjudged and mislabeled.
It cannot be contested that the internet is a very powerful medium and it shows today. It is so powerful that people are now depending on it for news and other relevant information. But what if the information in it are flawed and untrue? Will the internet consumers be able to check and confirm the facts by themselves? Are they keen enough to discern what is factual and what is not?
This is what concerns Africa now. Information indeed travels fast especially with the technology that we have today. But Africa is bothered by how ‘misinformation’ is travelling faster than the truth. In Africa’s first fact-checking site, there is question if South African are being killed like flies. There are even claims that these ‘murders’ are done in the country’s largest football stadium. Obviously, Africa is alarmed by these allegations. When the figures are evaluated, Africa Check immediately dismissed these distorted claims. According to Africa Check, which is a non-profit organization which promotes accuracy in public debate and test claims created by public figures around the African continent, South Africa’s crime rate is high but whites are actually less likely to be murdered than any other racial group in South Africa. Thus, whatever claim about the murder of whites in South Africa is definitely a false accusation and an exaggeration.
In other parts of the world such as America, fact-checking sites have been on the move for about decade already. In fact, it has been highlighted in mainstream politics particularly in tv networks when election period is on. However, when it comes to disproving false claims in public debate, South Africa still has to make huge efforts to catch on. Africa Check’s researchers are currently working hard to achieve this and actualize the plan to extend the reach of Africa’s Check to countries south of Sahara.
The site was launched October last year. And only a few months after it was officially up, it has already caught the attention of politicians and media in South Africa. One of its first reports involves accusations on The Economist because of imbalanced use of statistics of unemployment in one of its articles about South Africa. According to Africa Check, the statistical data was only utilized to suit the story in the article.
Misinformation can also have serious effects. For example, the claims about white genocide in South Africa can perpetuate racial discrimination and conflict. This is the reason why African experts and researchers are now doing their best to straighten facts and stop the spread of incorrect information. South Africa just hopes that each and every one becomes more discriminating and intelligent and avoid to be an instrument in the prevalence of misinformation.
Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2013/07/news-africa
Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa is a blogger, entrepreneur, and development advocate based in Kenya. He runs Dalbit International, and energy provider catering to the East African region.
It cannot be contested that the internet is a very powerful medium and it shows today. It is so powerful that people are now depending on it for news and other relevant information. But what if the information in it are flawed and untrue? Will the internet consumers be able to check and confirm the facts by themselves? Are they keen enough to discern what is factual and what is not?
This is what concerns Africa now. Information indeed travels fast especially with the technology that we have today. But Africa is bothered by how ‘misinformation’ is travelling faster than the truth. In Africa’s first fact-checking site, there is question if South African are being killed like flies. There are even claims that these ‘murders’ are done in the country’s largest football stadium. Obviously, Africa is alarmed by these allegations. When the figures are evaluated, Africa Check immediately dismissed these distorted claims. According to Africa Check, which is a non-profit organization which promotes accuracy in public debate and test claims created by public figures around the African continent, South Africa’s crime rate is high but whites are actually less likely to be murdered than any other racial group in South Africa. Thus, whatever claim about the murder of whites in South Africa is definitely a false accusation and an exaggeration.
In other parts of the world such as America, fact-checking sites have been on the move for about decade already. In fact, it has been highlighted in mainstream politics particularly in tv networks when election period is on. However, when it comes to disproving false claims in public debate, South Africa still has to make huge efforts to catch on. Africa Check’s researchers are currently working hard to achieve this and actualize the plan to extend the reach of Africa’s Check to countries south of Sahara.
The site was launched October last year. And only a few months after it was officially up, it has already caught the attention of politicians and media in South Africa. One of its first reports involves accusations on The Economist because of imbalanced use of statistics of unemployment in one of its articles about South Africa. According to Africa Check, the statistical data was only utilized to suit the story in the article.
Misinformation can also have serious effects. For example, the claims about white genocide in South Africa can perpetuate racial discrimination and conflict. This is the reason why African experts and researchers are now doing their best to straighten facts and stop the spread of incorrect information. South Africa just hopes that each and every one becomes more discriminating and intelligent and avoid to be an instrument in the prevalence of misinformation.
Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2013/07/news-africa
Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa is a blogger, entrepreneur, and development advocate based in Kenya. He runs Dalbit International, and energy provider catering to the East African region.