During this reporting period, a total of 127 out 197 pages being monitored published nearly 15,000 posts at an average of 4.66 posts per day.
The interactions were way up by +48.28% compared to the previous month. Most of the interactions were around President Kiir’s interview with Kenya’s Citizen TV Journalist Jeff Koinange and South Sudan’s decade of independence in the early weeks of the month.
Mid-month conversations centred on sports news and music. In relation to sports, much of the conversations were focused on South Sudan’s Junior National Team which had its orientation at South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) General Headquarters. The Under-23 team had their final orientation, followed by a theoretical session as they competed in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Championship.
In relation to music, some Facebook users were talking about South Sudanese musicians John Frog and Coozos Clan’s Meenimen, who were flaunting US Dollars and Euros on their respective Facebook pages.
Later conversations towards the end of the month were around the death of Hardlife Avenue’s artist Mantani who passed on in Kampala, Uganda following a motorcycle accident. A few other conversations were around the appointment of Jemma Nunu Kumba as the first woman speaker of the Revitalised Transitional National Legislative Assembly.
The leading Facebook pages with many interactions during the month were: Silver X, Atongoya, K-Denk, Eye Radio, Achai Wiir, Hot in Juba, Penton Keah, Lady Kola Official, Smart Family TV and Slate Nation.
The Social media landscape was widely unhealthy with notable cases of hate speech as reflected below.
Key Issues Discussed
A video of President Kiir’s interview with Kenyan Journalist Jeff Koinange reshared by SSD TV got over 3,000 interactions, 240 comments and 1,000 shares. Mixed views were expressed in the comment section. While many commentators described their frustrations and dissatisfaction over how the President answered the questions.
South Sudanese journalists also went to social media to talk about how they have never had an opportunity to interact with the President in a formal interview. Although the post was mostly dominated by disgruntled South Sudanese, it was interesting to note that it was devoid of hate speech, misinformation and inciting comments.
The above post by Data Gordon which seems to have been sponsored also attracted over 750 interactions, 95 comments and nearly 10 shares. It was encouraging the culture of condom use as a family planning method. Most of the comments lauded the information sharing while others placed inquiries for more information. No instances of hate speech or inciting remarks in the comments were observed.
A video shared by the America Embassy in Juba Facebook Page got over 23,000 views, 880 interactions, 80 comments and 150 shares. The video showed the embassy’s staff sharing independence messages with South Sudan’s Anthem playing in the background. Many comments were those expressing gratitude for the support offered by America to the South Sudan government.
The last hot topic was when the video of Prophet Abraham Chol’s arrest surfaced online. The video, which showed police men picking him from his bedroom in the middle of the night and included an exchange of words between him and them, created a lot of debate on both Facebook and Twitter. Many say his privacy rights were violated. Other conversations mainly revolved around a statement Abraham uttered during the ordeal saying, “I am a Dinka, not Monydor”. Because of its tribalistic undertones, Abraham’s statement and the post itself generated some hate speech mainly between Equatorians and the Dinka on social media.
The above picture showing some Americans who participated in the Great Run in the early hours of South Sudan’s Independence day also got the attention of the page followers with over 3,000 interactions, 150 comments and 50 shares. Many commentators commended the American people for always standing in solidarity with South Sudan.
This post had several commentators wishing the young stars the best of luck in the competition.
The appointment of Jemma Nunu Kumba as the first woman speaker of South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly was among the widely discussed topics from 23rd July. While many powered congratulatory messages, some questioned the rationale behind the nomination. “Congratulations Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, keep up the good work and the process of the peace implementation’” reads a comment. The post had over 3,000 reactions, 164 comments and 8 shares.
On 21 July, John Frog posted a photo of him with a lot of United States Dollar notes in Kenya’s Nairobi. The following day, 22 July, Coozos clan’s Meenimen and Madit Acamcrap also pictured themselves allegedly on the same bed with the same money in a Juba hotel.
Many people on social media condemned the move saying they should not have shown off so much wealth because there are poor people in the country and it would affect their emotions.
Murye Alex alias Mantani, a late South Sudanese music producer, rapper and a member of the Hardlife Avenue Stars, died on Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Kampala, Uganda, after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Uganda’s Moyo District on July 22, 2021. He collided with another rider, who died instantly. Hundreds of mourners have been publishing and sharing comments about his music and updates about ongoing funeral arrangements.
However, in later stages of the conversation around the musician Mantani’s death, South Sudanese took to social media to voice their displeasure with Ugandan singers for failing to show solidarity with South Sudan’s music community. The discussions were very heated with many South Sudanese taking to the comments section of Ugandan artists who extended belated condolence writing comments that constitute hate and xenophobia. Some Ugandans reciprocated.
Conclusion
Online conversations continue to be partly healthy in South Sudan’s online space. Additionally, threats against specific groups have not been common or widely shared. The use of screenshots, images or videos from unknown or unconfirmed sources has also substantially declined. As observed in the report, factual reporting has largely contributed to the low level of disinformation and misinformation.
The varying realities being shared on social media continue to expose digital natives to different opinions. The report concludes that the social media engagement during the reporting period was to an extent unhealthy and filled with hateful and inciting content, especially from those who blamed Ugandan and other foreign musicians for not extending early condolence messages in the wake of Mantani’s death.
End
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/JULY-HEALTH-REPORT.png345405211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-08-09 14:08:352021-08-09 14:08:39July 2021 Social Media Health Report
Online scams are becoming more prevalent, it is essential to check whether the information you see online is legitimate. Are you always cautious about content obtained online?
The growth of digital technology globally has led to the emergence of various online platforms which are used as channels for information and interaction, but as more people get online, cases of digital fraud on rise.
Such events are attributed by technological experts to mostly low internet literacy, among other factors.
Over the past few months, 211 Check has identified a number of scam related institutions offering scholarships, loans, grants and giveaways using names of prominent individuals, businesses, and organizations on social media.
Continued reports we received show that frauders are using social media to find new and unsuspecting victims in South Sudan.
Our investigation states that hundreds if not thousands of South Sudanese netizens may have been exposed to fraud/scams on the various social media platforms.
Most scammers lure the online users with the extortion of money in appeals for elites support, especially the politicians. These scams trick users into thinking that they are interacting with legitimate entities online, and by the time they discover the fraud, it is often too late.
Scammers craft these fake offers and use them to prey on unsuspecting individuals using fake FB or Twitter accounts to defraud them of money, increase their website clicks for monetary gain, or steal personal information.
These scams mix some truth with false information and use this to manipulate legitimate content to increase their visibility and reach, making some hoaxes difficult to spot.
Well, how can you avoid being conned? Here are some important things to look out for in order to avoid being scammed.
Poorly written posts
Many scams are produced in a hurry, and they often contain spelling and grammatical mistakes asking you to take certain actions. While errors may result from scammers having a poor command of the language, most mistakes are intentional and strategic.
The organizations that these scammers impersonate often have social media teams whose jobs are to carefully craft messages before they go online, perhaps it is unlikely that these errors would pass internal scrutiny before being published.
It is possible that these errors are inserted to dissuade those likely to spot them and report the scam, therefore this could be a strategy to isolate those who are less keen and more gullible, and who are more likely to fall prey to the scam.
One such indicator is; posts that are written in all capital letters and that have a lot of exclamation points.
An example of a post with grammatical errors
Posts that ask users to share content with friends to win
Some posts claiming to offer gift cards or shopping vouchers from popular stores or retail chains circulating on social media contain a link to a page that asks users to share the post with their friends and contacts as one step towards winning whatever prize is on offer.
Clicking on the link often redirects you to a site that requires users to give personal information, in order to claim winnings. The information requested varies from the name and phone number; to asking for payments via mobile money in order for their information to be processed.
Despite fulfilling the conditions asked to get the giveaway, another step is sometimes required: the user is asked to share the message with their WhatsApp contacts, or on Facebook groups, widening the net of potential victims to be scammed.
This asks the user to share with 20 others as a condition to receive gifts
Needless to say, no gift is forthcoming even after the post has been shared with contacts. Instead, the last step may lead to a new link, which tries to obtain additional data from the user.
Please, always avoid such posts, they are scams related and may jeopardize your account.
Free Scholarship that is guarantee and only requests for your personal information
Scholarships are generally given to students with high-quality academic records, nothing in life comes easy, and thus there is no free or guaranteed scholarship.
But the scammers instead use that trap to collect your personal datas like email, date of birth, credit card number, and passwords which theylater use to commit identity theft to later commit crimes online using your identity.
Others will even impersonate you and then start asking for money or loans from people close to you using your identity.
A text from a scammer requesting for personal information to send a victim money for scholarship
Posts that ask for money to facilitate a process
Scams that directly ask for money are the easiest to spot. This is common in job and scholarship scams, where applicants are asked to pay a fee, termed as processing, application, or registration fee, to be considered for the job or the scholarship.
The payments are usually required through a mobile money transfer app or bank, which is most commonly used in South Sudan and neighboring countries. However, the fee is sent to a personal number — often described as an official at the entity in question, such as the human resource manager — and not to the company’s legitimate bank account or mobile money pay bill.
Screenshot of a WhatsApp message from a scammer suggesting payment methods
The fee at times is relatively small but various with financial status, usually about US Dollars 50 to US Dollars 200 – an amount can translate to a hefty sum for the scammers should they succeed in fooling a large number of people.
Genuine job advertisements, grants, scholarships, and giveaways from legitimate companies do not require a fee to be paid, and being asked to pay upfront is a clear sign that something is fishy.
Even the global UN agencies don’t ask for a job application fee. Be always careful with such.
Posts that direct to an unrelated website
Some scams use the name of a real company, going as far as setting up a social media page or website using the name of the company.
One common tactic is the use of Google forms, which are quick and easy to set up, and can be made to look official and legitimate. These are popular with the job and scholarship scams, and grants used to steal people’s personal information.
Screenshot of a misleading grant application google form taken on July 29, 2020
In other instances, scammers make false offers to lure users to websites that earn advertising revenue for their owners. This could be a Facebook post advertising a flash sale at an appliance store. However, the link on the post does not direct to the official website of the store in question, but instead leads to a basic-looking website, usually running on a basic content management system, such as a WordPress site with the colors customized to imitate the brand in question.
In addition, scammers also use recognized brands to promote fake prizes and giveaways, with a social media page that has the name of the entity which looks very similar to the brand they claim to represent but with slight variation.
On June 30, 2020, a Facebook page called “South Sudan ministry of finance and planning” claimed that the South Sudanese government is handing out grants worth $41.4 million to entrepreneurs and farmers as part of an economic development program that aims to promote local investment.
“Applicants MUST be South Sudanese citizens aged between 23-57 years,” the post adds.
Screenshot of a fake Facebook post taken on July 28, 2020
Whenever you click a link on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or WhatsApp, be sure to check whether the URL or web address matches that of the company named in the posts.
NOTE: Some legitimate pages use link-shortening services such as Bitly that are not immediately recognizable as a spoof.
Many scams tend to focus on brands that may not have a website. The case of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, for example, which does not have a dedicated website where users can get more information on its activities, making it easier for fraudsters to hijack their brand image using a convincing domain and website or even a mere social media account.
Giveaway scams also tend to focus on people’s perceived needs. 211 Check looked into a number of scams offering fully-funded scholarships, also asking applicants to pay an application fee.
In this instance, the website offering scholarships does not identify the charities behind “fully funded” scholarships, and instead focuses on the application process for the free tanks. These scams are very tricky, be always vigilant!
Impersonation
Impersonation can be defined as pretending to be somebody else.
It is used when someone tries to look and sound like another person, as much as possible. This greatly occurs to popular public officials.
Fake Tourist
Under this guise, a person sends an unsuspecting individual a text expressing willingness to visit the country in which they live and appeals for their email as an official way of communication. This a move to trick the victims into thinking that the scammers are legitimate people who want to strike an official deal.
In most cases, this turns out to be a negative experience for the victims as the [scammer] lures them into gaining their trust as the currency of the transaction. With this, the predator uses the connection established to ask for favors.
A messenger text from a scammer
Promotions or competitions shared on recently created pages or websites
Some hoaxes are shared through posts that advertise a promotion or competition, with details on how to enter and win prizes.
Before clicking on any links from the page, check to see when the page was set up and whether there are other posts on the page.
A genuine page from a major brand will have multiple posts, a small fraction of which might be promotions, and these often do not contain major, expensive giveaways. Often one-off giveaway pages will have been set up within the past month.
To identify the gaps, take a look at the date of the oldest post. Fraudulent posts are often shared on accounts that have recently been set up, sometimes just days before or even on the same day the scam was published.
Conversely, major brands often have an extensive social media footprint, and their online pages and accounts have a lot of published posts.
Scammers may use a brand name and logo to advertise a campaign that asks users to like and share the competition to enter. Always check on the company’s legitimate website or social media accounts to verify whether the same competition or campaign has been posted there.
Fake Samsung page using engagement bait to boost the visibility and reach of the page
Conclusion:
Online scams and hoaxes are a common occurrence in our digital lives. They can be spreaded in multiple ways including email, social media, phone calls, or text messages.
Spotting a scam quickly will keep your personal data safe, save your time and protect you against fraud.
At first, these posts seem pretty harmless, but by clicking the ‘Like’ button, scammers may be able to see the information they might not have been able to see before, such as your phone number and location.
Once you click on a scam advert or message, you and your connections are more likely to be targeted with similar fraudulent material as the scammers now have your information.
Lastly, always run titles through a search engine before engaging in any online campaign. Chances are that fakes will have been reported by other users and can be found easily enough.
The golden rule is, if something about the content does not sound right, it probably is not. If you suspect something, reach out to the brand in question. They often have multiple recognized channels for engagement, and they also tend to be very responsive to customer queries. If in doubt, ask.
Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it. Scammers are getting smarter and taking advantage of new technology, new products or services, and major events to create believable stories that will convince you to give them your money or personal details.
Protect yourself
Be alert to the fact that scams exist. When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it’s over the phone, by mail, email, in person, or on a social networking site, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Know who you’re dealing with: If you’ve only ever met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of a business, take some time to do a bit more research. Do a Google image search on photos or search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them.
If a message or email comes from a friend and it seems unusual or out of character for them, contact your friend directly to check that it was really them that sent it.
Do not open suspicious texts, pop-up windows, or click on links or attachments in emails – delete them: If unsure, verify the identity of the contact through an independent source such as a phone book or online search. Don’t use the contact details provided in the message sent to you.
Keep your personal details secure: Put a lock on your mailbox and shred your bills and other important documents before throwing them out. Keep your passwords and pin numbers in a safe place.
Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social media sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.
Keep your mobile devices and computers secure:Always use password protection, don’t share access with others (including remotely), update security software, and backup content.
Protect your WiFi network with a password and avoid using public computers or WiFi hotspots to access online banking or provide personal information.
Research about the scholarship you are applying for:Make sure you make do some research about the scholarship, who is funding it, who is eligible to apply because some of these scholarships that are being offered by scammers lack full details.
Choose your passwords carefully: Choose passwords that would be difficult for others to guess and update them regularly. A strong password should include a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use the same password for every account/profile, and don’t share your passwords with anyone.
Review your privacy and security settings on social media: If you use social networking sites, such as Facebook, be careful who you connect with and learn how to use your privacy and security settings to ensure you stay safe. If you recognize suspicious behavior, clicked on spam, or have been scammed online, take steps to secure your account and be sure to report it.
Beware of any requests for your details or money: Never send money or give credit card details, online account details, or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust. Don’t agree to transfer money or goods for someone else: money laundering is a criminal offense.
About the Authors: 211 Check is a fact-checking and information verification organization established to counter misinformation, hate speech and incitement to violence, while South Sudan Safety Comm is an online community/platform that provides tools, methodologies and resources on online safety of social media users and digital natives.
Visit 211check.org [web, Facebook and Twitter] or Safety Comm South Sudan [https://safetycomm.org/, Facebook and Twitter] to learn more about fact checking, online safety, information verification, among others.
END…
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Avoiding-Online-Scams.png7501500211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-07-16 13:25:102021-07-30 09:28:57ONLINE FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Recognizing and Avoiding ‘Social Media Scams and Hoaxes’
A report compiled by Okech Francis and Emmanuel Bida, AFF-South Sudan fellows
Background
In South Sudan’s current developing media landscape, social media has become a national phenomenon and can be considered a mutiny to the news environment. This is because various users create their own content and curate the flow of information differently for public consumption.
According to the Digital 2021 South Sudan Hootsuite report, in January this year, there were 900.7 thousand internet users across the country. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of internet users increased by 13 thousand (+1.5%). This increase according to technological experts can have both negative and positive impacts.
Several other kinds of research reveals that social media has extended beyond everyday interpersonal communication and ‘life-sharing’ to the (quasi-journalistic) gathering and sharing of news information. The ease with which information is published and shared online challenges the long-established connection between the press and society, with journalists playing a mediating role as gatekeepers.
In addition, the possibility to comment, like, share, and follow news online has increased audience involvement with the news. For example, people, especially the young, increasingly get the most unverified and fact-checked news through social media – interactions that are habitually geared by Alternative Media.
As news circulation increasingly takes place through social media like Facebook and Twitter, which are regularly used by South Sudanese abroad and a few within the country, online sharing and discussions can create widespread mis/disinformation on certain issues or actors. Numerous researches reveal that when news spreads across social media, this increases attention to the story, ultimately influencing the (online and offline) public agenda.
In order to deepen and analyze South Sudanese online interactions on Alternative Media’s planetary, especially on how they handle their stories, #defyhatenow – Africa Fact Checking Fellows have been monitoring their various Facebook pages and Twitter handles.
The prominent media houses featured in this brief included, Juba TV, Hot in Juba, Nyamilepedia, Visit South Sudan, Smart Family TV, Sixty 4 Tribes Press, The South Sudan Herald, Ramciel Broadcasting, Bentiu TV, among others.
Mis/disinformation related Stories on Alternative Media
Below are some of the few examples of mis/disinformation related stories that were poorly handled by the mentioned particular alternative media houses.
1.Nhial Deng alleged story of having tested positive for COVID-19, posted by Sudan’s Post:
The story was refuted by the Office of the President:
The above story published by Sudan’s post alleged that Nhaial Deng, the Presidential Affairs minister was among those that tested positive for covid-19, together with Ateny Wek Ateny, the Presidential Press Secretary in the Office of the President.
This story that had created vast debate online turned out to be false. According to their comments, many online users believed the information. But after the widespread, the Office of the President in a late manner dismissed the fake news.
2.President Kiir’s alleged resignation rumour.
The letter regarding President Kiir’s alleged resignation
As seen in the above screenshot, a message circulated on various WhatsApp groups stating that the President was set to resign. According to our analysis, this story could have likely caused divisive politics, hence triggering conflict in the country. But it was later fact-checked and found to be untrue – a move which reduced the anticipated panic.
3.Another sensitive story was shared by a South Sudanese who stated that Ugandan authorities/thugs killed a South Sudanese boy in Kampala.
After thorough research and fact-checking, we discovered that the story was actually a modification of a post made by the same person that a South Sudanese boy was killed in Egypt. The individual merely changed Egypt to Uganda. This is an example of unhealthy news that can negatively affect South Sudan’s relationship with its neighbours and may harm Ugandans in South Sudan.
Find the link to the story fact-checked by 211 Check.
4.Controversies regarding the Minister of Education’s statement on the national Primary Leaving Examinations for opposition areas.
Late last month, Awut Deng Achuil – General Education and Instruction minister issued a statement regarding the final fate of the primary national exams. In the statement, she mentioned that due to insecurity, students in opposition-controlled areas of Jonglei, Upper, Unity States and some government areas (Warrap) would not access the national exams, but this story was misreported by some Alternative Media, which created online wrangles filled with mis/misinformation.
Its negative implications left the civil population to wonder whether peace parties were truly in a unity government if they are not able to coordinate amongst themselves. It was taken as a political rivalry between the SPLM-IG & the SPLM-IO. However, the students later sit for their exams after a number of engagements.
Trending Stories
During the monitoring period, the leading stories included:
Controversy over delayed Certificate of Primary Education Examinations for pupils in SPLM-IO controlled areas of Jonglei and the Upper Nile States.
Mass Leakage of the Certificate of Primary Education examinations, with the education ministry being blamed for poor exams regulations. This was shared on multiple pages.
Mary Boyoi’s visit to Tanzania to feature Harmonize in a song, “All I Need”. The story was shared on multiple pages.
Government’s failure to meet the February 15th deadline for reconstitution of National and State Assemblies. Multiple Pages shared the story.
The story about South Sudan adopting the anal swab as COVID-19 cases surge.
The arrest of drug traffickers trying to smuggle heroin via Juba International Airport (shared on multiple Pages).
Achair Wiir intervenes to clear South Sudan UN debts (shared on Blog/Website).
Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary tests positive for COVID-19; Nhial Deng Nhial and President Kiir rumoured COVID-19 positive. (Shared on multiple pages).
Leaked classified Information story regarding….”SPLM DECISION MAKERS RESORT TO POLITICS OF ASSASSINATION”. The story shared on 12th February had 53 Reactions, 33 Comments and 66 Shares.
17 year old South Sudanese boy shot dead by Ugandan Security Personnel in Kampala (13th February) – 75 Reactions, 159 Comments and 52 Shares. That was later found out to be a false story.
An alleged story of Aggrey Sabuni, former presidential advisor on economic affairs having died of Covid-19.
Analysis
During the monitoring period, the team noticed that there is a significant increase in the spread of fake news, with most Alternative Media engaged in the publication of sensational stories in order to capture the readership and create more viewers/followers.
It was identified that Alternative Media regularly get their news from citizens reporters and sometimes from mainstream media. Most information from citizens reports is mostly inaccurate, unverified and can cause harm to public consumption. It is noticed that most alternative media do not investigate or fact check stories but are good at sharing content quickly in order to attract more viewership.
AFF fellows have also noticed that the majority of Alternative Media are not active on Twitter. They mostly dominate Facebook, where many South Sudanese with low social media literacy are present. In addition, the team also identified that some Alternative Media Facebook pages have gone inactive with their last posts being before or shortly after mid last year (2020).
Impressive move; the team also noticed that some Alternative Media have in some cases apologized to the public for publishing inaccurate information – a great professional and ethnical step.
Recommendations
In order to mitigate the spread of rumours, claims, fake news and misinformation related content online by the Alternative Media, the following should be done by the relevant authorities.
There should be regular fact-checking and verification of questionable news items published online by the alternative media. It is always important to write to them on the verdict of their information once checked. This will help counter misinformation and encourage them to publish credible information. This can be done by fact-checking platforms (211 Check) and others.
The team recommends that fact-checking organizations and authorities should be proactive especially in the publication of their fact checks. The team strongly recommends that 211 Check should consider promoting their social media pages to reach a large audience. This will help to counter misinformation and ensure the coverage of a wider audience.
South Sudan National Communication Authority should capacitate its role in monitoring social media as is the case in many of the neighbouring countries. This should include requiring alternative media to acquire legality so that they are easily regulated.
There is also a need for the promotion of social media literacy and the importance of consuming healthy information. This should be done by the Ministry of Information, telecom companies and partners.
Government and partners should prioritize funding data-driven and online safety projects or institutions in order to bridge the already created gaps between mainstream and alternative media.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Alternative-Media.jpg9601500211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-02-26 12:06:022021-04-19 08:36:42The Online dominance of alternative media and how it contributes to mis/disinformation in South Sudan
It would be accurate to say that the biggest amounts of hate speech and misinformation are circulated on social media platforms, most notably Facebook and Twitter. This is not in the least surprising since most of these perpetrators feel powerful hiding behind the keyboard and therefore social media platforms provide the most expected outlets. But did you know that Facebook and Twitter have well-established policies that prohibit hate speech and the spread of misinformation?
The aim of these policies is to protect their users against being victims of hate speech and misinformation that is rampant on social media. They also aim at creating a safe environment through which users can freely interact regardless of their diverse backgrounds and affiliations. For countries like South Sudan, where in the past online hate speech has led to the escalation of the war, awareness of these policies amongst online users alone would encourage cautiousness in social media use, resulting in a trusting environment amongst South Sudanese with different backgrounds.
With such measures in place, the occurrence of Hate speech and misinformation can easily be reported to Facebook and Twitter, after which such posts can be taken down. These policies act as guidelines through which acceptable conduct can be attained on the social media platforms, consequently leading to the eradication of hate speech and misinformation as well as lasting peace. They also aim at creating a safe environment through which users can freely interact regardless of their diverse backgrounds and affiliations. The images show parts of the Facebook and Twitter policies which any user can access on their respective websites.
#DefyHateNow Thought of The Week: Through the development of these policies, both Facebook and Twitter have taken major steps in the efforts towards combating hate speech and misinformation online. Our part, therefore, as users of these platforms is to ensure that we utilize the tools handed to us in the fight against hate speech and misinformation through the avoidance of hate speech and misinformation for instance or reporting occurrences of the same.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/wk2_Social-Media-Health-Brief-1200x675-1-e1610436610923.png6091200developerhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.pngdeveloper2021-01-12 07:30:302021-01-12 07:30:34Did you know that Facebook and Twitter have policies against Hate Speech?
Just nine years down from independence after 21 years of brutal civil war with Sudan, South Sudan was left with no or poor infrastructural development. Specifically, technological development was as well left at a standstill.
About a week ago, Tufts University ranked Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania leading countries in digital growth and development in East African. Meanwhile, South Sudan got its first-ever connection to the region and the world last year when three fiber optic companies established offices in Juba – an event that made citizens joyous, particularly those within the capital Juba where most services are based.
In the past and currently, many citizens have and continue to remain unexposed to technological developments. Reports say telecom companies have been the only internet service providers, which at times don’t reach states levels.
According to UNICEF, 7% of South Sudanese across the country have access to the internet. And with low or incomplete digital literacy, especially on social media, many citizens have
become victims of online scams, such as social media accounts hacking and human trafficking, among others.
One of the messages sent to Jansku’s Facebook contact by the hacker.
For instance, Jansuk Samuel, one of the victims says his Facebook account was hacked last month and used for financial assistance requests such as calls for funeral-financial related supports.
According to Jansuk, he was not aware of the occurrences until a friend who was asked for assistance called to inquire about his alleged mother’s cancer admission.
“When I called Jansuk to tell him what happened, he was shocked. If I was not in Uganda and didn’t ask to visit the hospital, I guess I would have no idea about the agenda behind the message and might have become a victim of a scam.
“As I speak to you, I am worried because there might a lot of people that didn’t survive the deception they were placed in. Junsuk told me he still doesn’t have access to the account since last month. I am just imaging the people this hacker is tricking now” Juan, the friend, expressed fears.
In a related incident, the National Communication Authority Director-General – Adok Gai earlier last week told 211Check that the institution could not help a South Sudanese national who lost $90,000 to online scammers months ago on a Mercedes Benz car importation related deal.
“We have someone who lost about $90,000. This was someone who was told he won a Mercedes worth $300,000 and it was stuck in Mombasa and the person insisted and sent that money to those people, who later turned out to be scammers. After sending, the scammers switched off their numbers. This person reported to us and we couldn’t help because of the structures we have. Many people have been exploited due to poor data protection and low digital literacy” said Adok.
Mr. Adok appeals to many South Sudanese to be very vigilant while on various social media platforms.
“They use Facebook Messenger and purport to be ministers stuck in a foreign land and needing to be helped. And as a minister, many have always responded in return of something.
“However, many have always offered low assistance because of their low income. But it depends on how social the minister is. Imagine, if a person is impersonating the minister of petroleum, how much volume of money can be lost” said Adok.
Reporting
As cases continue to grow and more South Sudanese are being scammed online, the National Police say it has no proper data on these crimes, claiming that people don’t report.
“We have heard of these cases as formal talks. It’s really disgraceful that our people don’t report such incidents. Many think when they report, they will be mocked in the community that they are fools.
“This is one of the challenges we are facing, and as a result, we as police need to do some awareness so that these cases are reported so that those people to be brought to book,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel Justice – police spokesperson.
In order to mitigate or avoid such occurrences, the National Communication Authority and police authorities appeal to online users to always be cautious while online as the country embarks on the drafting and enactment of Cyber Crime Law.
#defyhatenow’s insight for December: Social media platforms like Facebook have policies against conduct such as hacking and the creation of fake accounts. You can read more here. This means such suspicious activities can be reported.
Continue the conservation with us on our social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Low-social-media-literacy-1030x579-1.png5791030developerhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.pngdeveloper2021-01-12 06:45:322021-01-12 07:00:38Low social media literacy: a disaster that has left many South Sudanese scammed
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