There are multiple instances in history that changed the way information is dispersed, especially by us in the media – whether it's politics, entertainment or issues of health.
One particular case that always comes to mind is that of Gugu Dlamini, who came out about her Aids status on radio on World Aids Day. This being 1998, the stigma was much greater and people were way more misinformed, so instead of understanding that Dlamini was trying to empower others with her bravery, she was stoned and stabbed to death by her neighbours.
This highlighted the sensitivity needed to deal with publicising someone’s status. Something was needed, considering how easily personal information is dispersed.
With social media becoming a major tool, how we break the news has changed – drastically.
Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela sparked a backlash at the weekend for revealing the death of AKA’s fiancée, Nelli Tembe. While Mphela often gets the scoop on TV show castings and lighter news, he bore the brunt of a highly moralistic view that he should not have revealed the news before the family did.
It's an understandable approach to entertainment news from Mphela, who started off as a blogger and became acclimatised to our country’s dwindling reading culture where people prefer bite-sized chunks of information on social media platforms like Twitter.
The approach of publishing information verified by unknown sources is what has seen brands and platforms like Perez Hilton and The Shade Room excel as entertainment entities. With limited resources, Mphela does not just reveal an issue within contentious spaces and audiences in SA but has to tackle a number of large issues as well.
Civil journalism and independent microbloggers have caused a watering down of information. Without subscribing to a code of conduct, every Tom, Dick and Harry can dip their feet into the world of journalism and gain fame for being a news warrior.
Take the often valiant efforts of Yusuf Abramjee, who runs a crime watch space as some kind of Gossip Girl for crooks. Abramjee’s whistle-blowing helps expose criminals, but has also been questionable in terms of his implicit bias that mars his entire cause. The fake Barry Roux Twitter account has become the bane of many social media users' existence, churning out hateful posts riddled with xenophobia, racism and even sexism under the punchy style of tabloid journalism. What helps hide the danger of his tweets is the humorous tone, relatable to some and noble to the entrepreneurs he supports with his social clout.
Along with Mphela, Abramjee and faux Roux, other social media users took it upon themselves to become civic journalists – whether sincere or sinister about it. Tembe’s death became a scramble for social media fame with the aim to see who would earn a fair amount of time in the digital spotlight for it.
Social media culture is one slowly turning into a need for everyone to become a celebrity. Soap sellers ride on the coattails of a trending gender-based violence attack to ensure their business gets the five seconds of fame it needs to be seen by potential clients.
Even podcast presenters intentionally disperse transphobia in an attempt to catch enough flak through a reformatory episode featuring the same queer community who are made responsible for educating their bigotry.
The pressure to navigate society while making a stand is pressuring us all to become social media influencers who need more clout than our abusers in order for our oppressed voices to be heard. Not that we can choose to subscribe to this as anyone can turn into a viral sensation at any point with no ability to control it.
With the fake ghobozas of social media earning social clout with every false tweet, it is high time that we not only consider repercussions for spreading misinformation for Covid-19 but serious repercussions for how people easily spread fake news.
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