Misinformation, Disinformation & Hate speech Tackling Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech: Empowering South Sudanese Youth, a presentation by Emmanuel Bida Thomas a fact-checker at 211 Check a fact-checking and information verification platform in South Sudan dedicated to countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

1. Tackling Misinformation,
Disinformation, and Hate Speech:
Empowering South Sudanese Youth
A TUKUL SESSION
WITH
EMMANUEL BIDA THOMAS
29TH JULY 2023

2. Pause and Reflect !
In ONLY a minute, talk about one
of the following…
• A situation where someone said
something bad about you, your
organisation, project or something
attached to you and how you handled
it.
• A time when you shared or published
information with factual errors and
you were called out or corrected.
• How often do you come across
information that you feel is
mis/disinformation or hate speech
and what you usually do.

3. Session Content
Introduction
Understanding
Misinformation,
Disinformation, and
Hate Speech
Identifying and
Analyzing
Misinformation,
Disinformation, and
Hate Speech
Combating
Misinformation,
Disinformation, and
Hate Speech
Empowering South
Sudanese Youth
Conclusion

4. Session Objectives
To inform participants about
the prevalence and potential
dangers of misinformation,
disinformation, and hate
speech in the society.
Knowledge and tools to
critically evaluate
information and discern
between reliable sources
and false or misleading
content.
Emphasize the importance
of verifying information
before sharing it with others
Combating Misinformation,
Disinformation, and Hate
Speech
Motivate participants to
actively participate in
promoting accurate
information, countering
disinformation, and fostering
a culture of tolerance and
respect.

5. Introduction
While misinformation,
disinformation, and hate
speech have existed for as long
as there were people to create
and spread them, the Internet
has reshaped and amplified the
ability to produce and
perpetuate false and
misleading content.
In today's digital age, it is
increasingly important for
young people to be aware of
the potential dangers posed by
false information and hate
speech in order to foster a
more inclusive and informed
society.

6. Definition and differentiation
Misinformation: Unintentional spread of inaccurate or
misleading information.
Disinformation: Deliberate dissemination of false or misleading
information with the intent to deceive or manipulate.
Hate Speech: Any form of expression that offends, threatens, or insults individuals or
groups based on attributes such as race, religion, ethnicity, or gender.
Mal-information; (is when genuine information is shared to cause harm, often by moving private
information into the public sphere. While not false, this information that is used in a way that can
inflict harm on an entity or individual. It includes leaks, data breaches, and personal information
that is shared with the public to damage reputations)

7. Definition and differentiation

8. Why do people share MDH?
In a crisis, the
disruption of both
social networks
and access to the
usual sources of
information can
provide fertile
ground for the
development of
MDH –
sidestepping
people’s critical
thinking and
allowing MDH to
proliferate.
People generally
share MDH
because they think
they are true…
To explain a situation or an event
To mislead or deceive: often economically or politically motivated
To share useful or entertaining information
To develop relationships by using information as a currency
To feel connected to issues affecting them
To define oneself by being ‘in the know’ or making others look bad
Poor Journalism - in the rush to be the first to break’ a story, a lot of mistaking can be made which, if
not corrected, if not corrected, can have potentially damaging consequences
For Social or psychological reason, (some people try to push false or
misleading content just to see if they can get away with it).

9. Impact on individuals and society
Influence community behaviours and beliefs
Hinders progress: Misinformation can hinder social, economic, and political
development.
Divides communities: Hate speech perpetuates division, discrimination, and
conflict within society.
Undermines trust: False information erodes trust in institutions, media, and public
figures.

10. Developing critical thinking skills
Developing critical thinking
skills is crucial for
recognizing and evaluating
misinformation,
disinformation, and hate
speech, promoting
informed decision-making
and fostering a more
tolerant and inclusive
society.
Encourage young people
to question and verify
information from multiple
sources.
Promote fact-checking
websites and tools to verify
claims and debunk
misinformation.

11. Fact-checking Tools and Websites
Common Sense
Search Engines like Google, Bing, and Yandex
Google Images, Bing and Yandex Images
Whois.com
VirusTotal
211check.org, pesacheck.org, africacheck.org, AFP Fact-check
Google Maps, Google Earth

12. Recognizing common tactics
Clickbait headlines:
Sensationalized headlines designed to grab attention but
often distort the truth.
Manipulated images:
Images edited or taken out of context to support false
narratives.
Bots and trolls:
Automated accounts or individuals spreading false
information or hate speech online.

13. Recognizing common tactics

14. Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech
Promoting media literacy and digital
citizenship
Educate youth about the responsible use of
social media platforms and online
communication.
Encourage critical thinking, fact-checking,
and responsible sharing of information.

15. Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech

16. Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech
Strengthening media and information
literacy
Advocate for inclusive and accurate
media reporting.
Support initiatives that promote media
literacy skills among young people.

17. Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech
Collaboration and reporting mechanisms.
Foster partnerships between government, civil
society organizations, and technology companies
to combat misinformation and hate speech.
Establish accessible reporting mechanisms for
individuals to report instances of misinformation or
hate speech.

18. Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Hate Speech

19. Empowering South Sudanese Youth
Education and awareness-raising
Incorporate media literacy and critical thinking into
school curricula.
Organize workshops and training sessions to increase
awareness of misinformation and hate speech.

20. Empowering South Sudanese Youth
Youth-led initiatives.
Encourage young people to create positive content
and counter-narratives against hate speech.
Support youth-led campaigns promoting tolerance,
empathy, and unity.

21. Conclusion
Equipping South Sudanese youth with the knowledge and skills to
identify, analyze, and tackle misinformation, disinformation, and
hate speech can foster a more inclusive and informed society.
Let us all work together to empower ourselves and build a future
where accurate information, respect, and understanding prevail.
Together, we can make a difference.

22. A HUGE VOTE OF THANKS
SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR JOINING US IN THE TUKUL!
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