Fake News Combat media
- a project consisting of production and dissemination of MIL content via the social media platforms (Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp) to young internet users in Côte d’Ivoire aimed at helping them detect fake news and avoid sharing them.
Focus
Young internet users aged from 13 to 17 living in Côte d’Ivoire.
The development of emerging technologies has led to the creation of a multitude of sources of information in various formats (TV, radio, print media). Since then, we have been flooded with information continuously broadcasted on radio and TV, not to mention the plethoric number of paper newspapers, for those who like reading.
Furthermore, emergence of internet, best ever tool for freedom of expression, has made it possible to increase the sources of information and the variety of formats. Also, citizens, who were previously mere consumers, are now producers and disseminators of information. The benefit with the internet is the possible interaction between broadcasters and consumers.
Despite its advantages, the use of the Internet has drawbacks, including the dissemination and systematic sharing of unverified information, non-cross-checking and non-verification of information sources. This results in misinformation that can sometimes be at the origin of a conflict situation.
Young Internet users, because of their carelessness and lack of analytical skills, are the most exposed to misinformation. As these people make up a large segment of world population, it is important to provide them with media and information literacy. To help counter this phenomenon of misinformation with young people, we propose to produce MIL educational content for young Internet users in Côte d'Ivoire, targeting those aged 13 to 17 years. This content will be distributed via social media accounts: Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram... These platforms are the most used communication and interaction tools by our target audience.
There are already solutions to counter misinformation. However, they struggle to achieve the expected results because of their level of sophistication which does not allow an adequate use of the target populations. Above all, these solutions do not necessarily target young people, unlike ours, where they are the target consumer and potential creator of content.
Team
Abiba Pauline
Traoré
Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan
Stéphane
Kra
Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan
Kangah Donatien
Koffi
Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan
General manager at E-voir
Evrard Aka
Kouadio
Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan
Desired partners:
E-voir agency and its website Avenue225 - the first local information website in Côte d'Ivoire. It already has accounts on two social networks: Facebook (about 15,000 followers) and Twitter (over 40,000), which will help with the promotion of the new media service.
The Institute of Sciences and Techniques of Communication (ISTC-Polytechnique), is a public institution of higher education which trains to the profession of journalism and communication. Students from this school, future media and information professionals, can help us promote the solution. As part of their studies, our solution could be a research topic.
Wikimedia Community User Group Côte d’Ivoire - the association of volunteers of the Wikimedia movement. It has about fifty members, including 20 active, who work mainly in the field of communication. The association will contribute to valorize the contents resulting from the solution. Its affiliate Wikimedia clubs, created in different schools, will be put to contribution, to promote the contents of the solution. The partnership with Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire will also be a framework for training and learning for the members of this association.
ABCI (Association des Blogueurs de Côte d’Ivoire) - the largest community of bloggers in Côte d’Ivoire. With a hundred members who could use their blogs and social media platforms to promote our new accounts and also the content produced by the solution.
Repprelci (local information websites network) - online press professionals' network of Côte d'Ivoire. The organization is well involved in the structuring of digital media and carries out actions aimed at the proper use of the Internet, in Côte d'Ivoire. The platforms (web sites) of its different members can serve as channels for dissemination of the solution and awareness as well.
Unicef (U-Report program). Already active by SMS, Facebook and WhatsApp, it can be a channel for promoting the solution.
This could help to achieve the goal of U-Report, which is to strengthen the participation of communities in the public debate to find solutions to the problems they face (here, misinformation and MIL).
Lycée Sainte Marie d’Abidjan - one of the most important high schools open exclusively to girls. We will take advantage of
E-voir's links with this school to promote our solution to young girls who join our target group.