During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial that you have access to accurate and reliable news. Almost everyone relies on the news for information about the lockdown restrictions, the spread of the virus, and other health and safety tips. Particularly, social media has become a source of valuable information about COVID-19. It also helps keep families and communities connected. However, there’s been a flood of fake news shared on social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You may wonder how to identify and report fake news. We provide insights on how to do so below.

Who are the sources of fake news?

Misinformation and speculation about COVID-19 have flooded social media. But, who starts these rumours and spreads them?

Below, we list the 7 main sources of fake news based on research by the BBC.

  1. Jokers. These are pranksters who share false information to get reactions out of people. Several countries threatened jokers with jail should they share fake news that COVID-19 is a global April Fool’s joke.
  2. Scammers. They look to make money from the pandemic. An example is that of scammers claiming to be health department officials. They created fake tenders for a non-existent sanitiser machine.
  3. Politicians. These representatives sometimes make careless statements about potential treatments for COVID-19, such as that injecting yourself with disinfectant might treat COVID-19.
  4. Conspiracy theorists. They share misinformation that COVID-19 is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people. For example, some theorists suggested that COVID-19 does not exist and that, instead, people were getting sick from 5G broadband technology.
  5. Insiders. Sometimes misinformation comes from an apparently trustworthy source. The insiders represent themselves as healthcare professionals. For instance, someone claimed that a lab found COVID-19 on fresh fruit. This misinformation was shared widely on Facebook and WhatsApp.
  6. Relatives. They share news to protect their families. These messages usually get forwarded to family groups. This is dangerous because the information is often false and creates unnecessary panic.
  7. Celebrities. A local celebrity, Somizi Mhlongo was arrested for sharing fake news on Instagram. He alleged that the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, told him that the government would extend the national lockdown before the President announced it.

What’s the government doing about fake news?

Many governments have criminalised the spread of fake or misleading news. For example, in South Africa anyone caught spreading fake news could be fined or imprisoned for up to six months, or both, under regulation 14(2) of the COVID-19 Regulations.

Also, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies launched a special Task Team to monitor and respond to fake news during the lockdown period. The Taskforce will include different stakeholders in the ICT industry.

See our social media law page for more info about the different laws that apply to social media.

How to verify news sources

Before you share anything on social media, take a minute to Google the information to see if a credible news site has reported on it. Media Monitoring Africa’s website has many online tools which you can download to verify the online content you’re reading. Also, the fact-checking website Africa Check regularly updates its fact-checks about COVID-19.

How do I report fake news?

Report fake news via the Real411 website or the WhatsApp line 067 966 4015.