A recent study conducted by Afrobarometer highlights the evolution of media use on the African continent and its impact on access to information.
The media landscape has evolved rapidly in recent years, partly due to the rise of digital technology in various countries and the growing use of mobile devices.
This development has led to a proliferation of online information platforms. According to the study, regular use of digital sources for information has almost doubled in just five years.
Radio remains the most popular mass media on the continent due to its accessibility and reach, even though digital media and social networks are becoming increasingly prevalent in the overall information landscape.
Unfortunately, although this is not a new phenomenon, these new media are becoming a breeding ground for fake news. Fake news is a viral and global phenomenon that affects all corners of the world and plagues the media landscape. In Africa, as in the rest of the world, fake news spreads at lightning speed, especially in times of crisis or political tension, which are conducive to its circulation.
According to Afrobarometer, the African populations of the 34 countries studied recognize the ability of new technologies to inform, but they remain wary of new media. The majority consider the latter to be sources of false information and hate speech. More specifically, 64% of African respondents believe that social media are sources of false information.
To address this issue, the challenge in the coming years will be to train and empower content publishers to support the development of quality journalism on the African continent. The aim is to professionalize the journalism profession and provide training in methods of gathering information, from verification to digital processing. This will enable us to actively combat misinformation, a real scourge of the digital age, both on the continent and around the world, where more and more people are connecting every day to access information.