It’s all here on The Pulse – a podcast series from The Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change. In this 3 part episode, the CABC’s Adam Armstrong chats to Jean Le Roux, a Research Associate at the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFR), about how false information on social media is organised and being weaponised.
In an era of post-truth “alternative facts”, smoke and mirrors tactics have become the new currency of political gamesmanship Read full article
Anti-foreigner hashtags continue to swirl around local Twitter, together with misleading claims and links to fake news sites. Don’t be fooled, warns a UCT research unit. Read full article
This is a summary of the trending, highest impact and most active themes and their narratives related to social cohesion and division in South African public-domain social media conversations for the week ending 3 December 2020. Read full article
The key threat to democracy today is not ideological, in the sense that opposing or alternative ideologies threaten to replace democracy. Rather, it is how the politics of the base can be exploited to undermine democratic processes and institutions, and skew democratic outcomes. Read full article
Those responsible for state capture have a vested interest in keeping the public confused – and complacent. In an era of post truth, “alternative facts”, smoke and mirrors tactics have become the new currency of political gamesmanship” writes Camaren Peter, associate professor at UCT’s Graduate School of Business and Director and Executive Head at the...
This is a summary of the trending, highest impact and most active themes and their narratives related to social cohesion and division in South African public-domain social media conversations for the week ending 19 November 2020. This is a summary of the trending, highest impact and most active themes and their narratives related to social...
Now this right could be threatened with a new police bill that criminalises certain conduct in respect of gathering. This is important because any bill that does not align with our Constitution threatens the very thing our democracy is built on: our freedom. Read the full story here:
Social media is being used to peddle false narratives which are deepening the divide in our society. The Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change; DFR Labs and Real 411 are organisations that exist to protect our online safety; our democracy and undo some of the damage created by these organised networks. This Carte Blanche episode...
In a high-stakes virtual life where fresh news and new “likes” can mean power and income, the spreading of vital information that sparks emotion and harnesses a following could be a powerful tool for good. But what if digital manipulation goes over to the dark side and targeted online campaigns bring about real-world hatred, conflict,...
