WhatsApp is Nigeria’s biggest social network and can be found on the phones of 85 per cent of Nigerian social media users – but too often the platform is used to spread dangerous misinformation. Ultimately, Nigeria needs a high profile national digital literacy campaign to help social media users to better critically consider the information they see online. WhatsApp is Nigeria’s biggest social network simply because users do not need to use a lot of data to access it. Until then, we need social media companies to take the necessary steps to protect their users from fake news and harmful half-truths. Sadly, when it comes to being signposted to trustworthy information online, it is hard to escape the sense that the major social networks are once again allowing Nigeria to fall behind.

Source: The Guardian August 07, 2020 08:59 UTC