Media consultants react to viral navy impersonation hoax – SABC Information

Analysts have cautioned the public against spreading fake news on social media platforms after the widespread circulation of a video on TikTok showing a man impersonating a National Defence Force General, calling for a protest at the Union Buildings.

The SANDF distanced itself from the video and said the man was not a soldier.

Media Monitoring Africa’s William Bird says the public should always check social media information against reliable news sources.

Bird is calling for law enforcement to investigate the social media user behind the video.

“What they should be doing is asking for the police to investigate that, because calling for public harm and incitement to violence, calling for the military to actively rise up against the state is a very real problem that, depending on all the issues stated in the video, may well constitute a criminal offence under our existing law.”

Media Monitoring Africa has also raised concern about the use of social media influencers in political campaigns.

Bird has cautioned that their involvement could jeopardise democratic processes. “Politicians and political parties globally are using both influencers and micro influencers to spread their messages, but also to undermine other political parties. When you have that kind of network, ordinary people will see particular kinds of information. If you are then paying influencers to spread particular messages while targeting people, it is going to affect their ability to make an informed choice.”