Journal article
Motivations for Sharing Misinformation: A Comparative Study in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries
International journal of communication, Vol.15, pp.1200-1219
01/01/2021
Abstract
In most African countries, "fake news," politically motivated disinformation, and misinformation in the media were common occurrences before these became a preoccupation in the Global North. However, with a fast-growing population of mobile users, and the popularization of apps such as WhatsApp, misinformation has become much more pervasive across the continent. Researchers have shown that perceived exposure to false information is high in some African countries, and yet citizens often share made-up news intentionally. This article explores the motivations and contributing factors for sharing misinformation in six sub-Saharan African countries. Our analysis of 12 focus groups with university students reveals two common motivations: civic duty and fun. The sharing of political (dis)information was uneven, but common among students with high levels of self-reported political engagement. We also present an array of cues used to determine credibility, which often determines the shareability of information. Cross-national differences are also discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Motivations for Sharing Misinformation: A Comparative Study in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries
- Creators
- Dani Madrid-Morales - Univ Houston, Houston, TX 77004 USAHerman Wasserman - Univ Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaGregory Gondwe - Univ Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USAKhulekani Ndlovu - Univ Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaEtse Sikanku - Ghana Inst Journalism, Accra, GhanaMelissa Tully - Univ Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAEmeka Umejei - Amer Univ Nigeria, Yola, NigeriaChikezie Uzuegbunam - Univ Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of communication, Vol.15, pp.1200-1219
- ISSN
- 1932-8036
- eISSN
- 1932-8036
- Publisher
- Usc Annenberg Press
- Number of pages
- 20
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984283724602771
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