Fake news, misinformation and artificial intelligence are making it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish fact from fiction, placing greater responsibility on information professionals to safeguard credible information.

The remark was made by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) advocate Monica Geingos at the National Information Workers Association of Namibia (NIWAN) Sustainable Development Goals engagement held at the BeFree Youth Campus in Windhoek.

"Misinformation and fake news that worries me is the role of social media and how it changes how we think. TikTok, let me not mention names, but they are algorithms and on some social media channels that are built to make you anxious. And they are also built in those 30-second videos to make you addicted. Half of you, before you sleep, just don't want to be a 20-year-old girl. But it's designed for addiction."

Geingos urged information professionals not to rely solely on data, saying statistics must be balanced with the lived realities of communities. 

The President of the National Information Workers Association of Namibia (NIWAN), Melba Mabuku-Sitwala, said libraries and archives play a vital role in preserving knowledge, improving access to information and supporting education, research and evidence-based decision-making needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

"The 17 goals are interconnected; they are interrelated. When you achieve one goal, the impact is also felt on nearly each and every goal. So what we are doing as information professionals in our respective organisations: we are contributing to quality education through lifelong learning."

The patron of NIWAN Elia Kaiyamo urged young people to seize opportunities like these to learn, build professional networks and actively engage with experts and peers.

The engagement brought together librarians, archivists and other information professionals to explore how their work contributes to achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals.