Navigating Propaganda & Fake News in Kenya’s High-Voltage Political Climate
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- March 31, 2023
We are in a high-voltage political phase in Kenya with the bi-weekly Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance demos aimed at pushing the Kenya Kwanza government to listen and work ways to lower the skyrocketing cost of living.
During such times, there is always a deluge of information targeting the masses with differing political tones on mainstream media and other platforms like blogs and social media. The fight for the eyes and ears of the people consuming the information is a fight for minds.
The classic line of “information is power” is as simple as that and just as profound. He who controls what you hear about/know can shape your thinking, opinion, and ultimately your action or lack thereof. We live in what is called “the information age.”
A world is driven and shaped by information. It matters a great deal what kind of information you consume. Some may be true, some false. It depends if someone is driving an agenda or not.
When there is an agenda, two elements of passing a message may be widely used for social engineering: propaganda and fake news. The two may sound the same, but are they?
Propaganda and fake news are both types of misinformation, but they have some key differences.
Propaganda
Propaganda deliberately shapes public opinion or behavior through biased or misleading information. Governments or other organizations often use it to promote a particular ideology or agenda. Propaganda can take many forms, including advertising, speeches, and media campaigns.
Fake news
Fake news, however, refers to false or misleading information presented as if it were true. It can be spread through social media, websites, or other sources to generate clicks, likes, or other forms of engagement.
Anyone can create fake news, which can take many forms, including satirical articles, conspiracy theories, and clickbait headlines.
Despite their differences, propaganda and fake news share some similarities in terms of their objectives and effects. Both are designed to manipulate public opinion or behavior, and both can have serious consequences for individuals and society as a whole. They can lead to the spread of misinformation, distrust of institutions, and even violence.
Fake news is most prevalent on social media platforms, where information can be easily shared and amplified. Propaganda, on the other hand, is often associated with authoritarian regimes or political movements that seek to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices.
To spot and avoid fake news and propaganda, it’s important to be critical of the information you encounter and to seek out multiple sources to verify it. Look for signs of bias or manipulation, such as loaded language or emotional appeals, and check the credibility of the sources cited.
Be wary of information that seems too good (or bad) to be true and be careful about sharing information that you haven’t verified yourself.
You know that line of “trust but verify”? I would counsel you to change it “don’t trust, just verify” when you come across a piece of information you suspect as fake news or propaganda.
Stay informed. Stay safe.
