The Conference on Building a Resilient Information Ecosystem in Southern Africa continues in the capital, and today, the discussion was about the rise of social media and technology that has significantly worsened the spread of both misinformation and disinformation.

The Media Monitoring Africa representative, Phakamile Khumalo, who led the discussion, said that while these issues have always existed, their impact is now amplified, particularly during high-stakes events like elections. 

Khumalo particularly highlighted the growing impact of misinformation on citizens' rights to freedom of expression and access to information, particularly through social media platforms. 

She outlined several key characteristics of social media that exacerbate the problem and pointed to artificial intelligence, or AI, which has made it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between factual and false information. 

"People often share content with loved ones—whether it makes them angry or excited—without verifying its accuracy or considering the consequences. This rapid, uncritical sharing of content can spread misinformation far and wide."

Khumalo also spoke about the global reach of the internet. 

Social media platforms have turned the world into a closely connected global community, enabling posts to go viral within seconds. 

"This interconnectedness has benefits, but it also means that disinformation spreads faster and more widely than reliable information, often crossing borders almost instantaneously."

Khumalo also highlighted the use of bots to amplify certain messages online. 

These automated accounts ensure that specific content repeatedly appears in users' feeds, increasing the likelihood of users accepting and sharing it. 

SADC non-governmental organisations, media institutions, and professionals have been gathered in Windhoek since Monday, discussing the challenges and progress of journalists in the region.