OPINION: Owners of social media platforms also need to create features that will help detect and prevent misinformation and disinformation. In past elections in some parts of the world, social media platforms such as Facebook came under fire, writes Sithembiso Sithole.
As we head to the local government elections on November 1, political leaders are not leaving anything to chance as they campaign on social media to get the electorate to vote for them.
Like I usually say, social media forces necessary change, particularly in the time of a pandemic. Political party leaders who were not active users on social media had to learn how to make use of different social media platforms. Some had to navigate their way on the use of social media tools and features such as Facebook Live, Twitter Spaces and WhatsApp groups.
Social media training sessions could come in very handy for political parties and movements as we head to the local government elections. In some incidents, politicians and political parties find themselves trending for the wrong reasons. Recently, the DA was in hot water for posting election posters about racism in Phoenix. Many felt that the party was insensitive while others felt that the posters were fuelling racial tensions.
There is a great need for social media users to be cautious when it comes to sharing and re-sharing content, particularly content that has the potential to create panic, and unverified information.
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