Introduction
Social media has been blamed for disseminating fake news.
The survey shows:
South Africa has seen its fair share of fake news in recent years.
This has only emphasised the need to combat this cyber-crime.
Read also
They indicated that young people are instigators of spreading false information that has the potential to create a panic.
What is South Africa’s government doing to combat cyber crime?
If people are not educated they would believe every news source as the truth.
Fake news is spread easily thanks to the availability of social media platforms.Source: Getty Images
Yacoob said there are culprits out there who take advantage of peoples weakness and spread false information.
He said social media has complicated the way we receive and perceive news.
How does Briefly.co.za verify information, videos and photos?
Former Constitutional Court Judge Zak Yacoob says people should think critically about the information they are exposed to.Source: Getty Images
In theBriefly.co.zanewsroom, we check each fact… and then we check them again.
Enjoyed reading our story?
Download BRIEFLY’s news app onGoogle Playnow and stay up-to-date with major South African news!
Earlier in December, a message was circulated on social media and messaging apps about the SANDF cancelling its members' leave. This has been identified as fake news. Photo: South African GovernmentSource: UGC
E-mail: rianette.cluley@briefly.co.za
At the beginning of the lockdown in March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that those spreading fake news could face prosecution. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergSource: Getty Images
