鈥淔ake news鈥� is听the听modern shorthand for humankind鈥檚 ageless penchant to engage in rumor, hearsay and gossip听鈥撎齛ll of which can harbor deadly consequences during a public health emergency. Like now.听
Pandemics have been strongly linked to the spread of fake news which can often pique the curiosity of audiences through unusual content听鈥撎齱hether it鈥檚 wild exaggerations of contagion levels听or stigmatizing suspected carriers or the promise of miracle cures. Traveling up to听听than reliable news, erroneous information can be harmful not only to one鈥檚 health by encouraging unproven听health practices, but also to the trust populations have in authorities or public institutions.听听
IOM鈥檚听Niger Community听Cohesion听Initiative (NCCI), together with partner GeoAnalytics Center, launched this week a nationwide online campaign 鈥溾��, with the goal of reducing its proliferation across the country.听听
The GeoAnalytics听Center听is a Nigerien NGO whose purpose is to strengthen technological programmes in the fields of education, gender and governance. The NGO works on the premise that when adapted to local听conditions, technology can听serve听an essential听role听for听communication, and empowerment.听听听
The NCCI programme听addresses key drivers of conflict, including youth unemployment, increased reach of violent extremist organizations, and feelings of exclusion among different ethnic groups. It has been implemented with support from the United States Agency for International Development/Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) starting in 2014.听听听
Although it trails neighboring countries in听internet penetration, Niger has been听advancing听steadily, expanding听its听3G networks and making smartphones more affordable, increasing the use of social media, especially among the young.听听
As beneficial as digitalization is, social media also unleashes听harmful consequences听鈥撎齭uch as spreading hate speech, radical messages and anti-migrant sentiments.听听听
鈥淗armful disinformation is rapidly spreading on social media,鈥� said Alan Bobbett, NCCI Chief of Party and Programme Manager in Niger. 鈥淲e hope through the launch of this online nationwide campaign to promote critical thinking around the consumption of fake news.鈥澨�
In the context of the current global health crisis, Niger鈥檚 GeoAnalytics Center notes, it鈥檚 crucial to share accurate information to raise awareness in the difference between real and fake news.听听听
Under a previous effort with NCCI, the NGO trained a hundred young civil society leaders from the听Tillab茅ri听region in the use of social media, as well as in听critical thinking and听the detection of fake news. Nigerien filmmakers previously trained by the NGO have encouraged other young people to participate in the creation of campaign videos.听听听
鈥淲ithout trust, basic interactions between people collapse and polarization in societies increases,鈥澨齟xplained听Eduard Peris Deprez,听the centre鈥檚 director.听听听
In听its Fake News campaign, audiovisual products are created and disseminated online. Short videos and 鈥渕emes鈥� address themes using humor and a vocabulary adapted to the target audience.听听
Videos听are听being听produced in local languages with French subtitles听鈥撎齛nd made available in low resolution to ensure a wider听dissemination despite internet connectivity issues in some of听Niger鈥檚听regions.听To听create听a snowball effect, audiovisual material is to be published via听WhatsApp听and Facebook, Niger鈥檚 most popular social networks.听听
WhatsApp remains the most popular application among the young people surveyed by the NGO (85% of men, 91% of women), independently of the level of education. This is due particularly to the audio option offered by the app,听which allows illiterate听users to access听it with ease.听
