Youth Vulnerability to Online Misinformation and Disinformation Poses Risks for Ghana’s Democratic Processes – Child Online Protection

Youth Vulnerability to Online Misinformation and Disinformation Poses Risks for Ghana’s Democratic Processes – Child Online Protection

Confidence Mawusi, Lead at the Child Online Protection Organisation, has sounded an alarm over the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation to Ghana’s electoral processes, warning that unchecked dissemination of false information could undermine trust in the country’s democratic institutions.

Speaking during the NorvanReports and BudgIT Ghana X Space event on the theme “From Social Media to Reality: Tracing the Journey of Election Rumours in Ghana,” Mr Mawusi outlined the critical distinction between misinformation, which he described as incorrect information shared unintentionally, and disinformation, which is deliberately fabricated to deceive and manipulate.

Mr Mawusi pointed to the increasing vulnerability of young people to both forms of harmful content, particularly during election cycles.

He cited a UNICEF report that highlights how those between the ages of 12 and 29 are the primary users of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, and are most likely to encounter or share misleading information.

He warned that this demographic, who may not have the discernment to verify the authenticity of online content, risks becoming unwitting participants in the spread of disinformation during elections.

Drawing on the 2017 Kenyan elections as a cautionary tale, Mr Mawusi noted how misinformation, amplified through social media channels, fuelled political violence and deepened societal divisions.

He suggested that Ghana, ahead of its own elections, could face similar risks if the spread of unverified or misleading information is not curtailed.

According to him, 80% of election-related content shared on social media during political campaigns could be false or misleading, echoing trends seen in countries like India and the United States.

In response to the challenge, Mr Mawusi’s organisation has recruited over 500 university volunteers who are tasked with educating their peers about the dangers of uncritically sharing information online.

The central message of their campaign—“sharing is not caring, and seeing is not believing”—aims to instill a sense of responsibility in young Ghanaians about the role they play in shaping political discourse.

Mr Mawusi emphasised the need for education, stressing that the long-term consequences of misinformation include a loss of faith in Ghana’s democratic institutions.

In closing, he warned that political actors would likely exploit historical footage and manipulate data to stoke tensions during the upcoming elections, making it all the more important for young people to be vigilant in fact-checking and scrutinizing the content they encounter.