October 12, 2020

Disinformation in a time of Covid-19: Weekly Trends in SA

MMA in the media
By Yinhla Ngobeni 80 Comments

12 October 2020, Daily Maverick, Thandi Smith and William Bird

Media Monitoring Africa has been tracking disinformation trends on digital platforms since the end of March.

Using the Real411 platform we have analysed disinformation trends that have largely focused on Covid-19. To date, the platform has received 816 complaints, with 93% resolved. For the last few weeks, we have been looking at the different elements of disinformation: how it works, the role of networks and echo chambers, how to spot it and what you can do.

This week we look at the flipside: those who are often the target of disinformation but who sometimes wittingly or unwittingly help spread it and encourage it.

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