• YOUTH

The impact of social media on elections in Namibia

• 4 Weeks Ago

Social media platforms are increasingly shaping political discourse and mobilising youth voters in Namibia.

According to Datareportal, a website that shows internet usage statistics, there has been a significant rise in internet penetration and social media use since 2019, driven by affordable mobile data and smartphone accessibility. Namibia has more than 700 000 social media users in 2024. This is up from 670 000 social media users in 2019, accorcding to this website.

This trend has empowered young voters to engage in political discussions, participate in campaigns, and hold politicians accountable in unprecedented ways, according to Dr Sadrag Panduleni Shihomeka.

Shihomeka, a senior lecturer at the University of Namibia specialising in social media and youth politics, has extensively studied this phenomenon. In his 2019 dissertation, "Citizen Engagement: Politics and Digital Media in Namibia," he highlighted the potential of digital platforms to enhance political participation among Namibian youth, despite a global decline in civic engagement.

Political entities have recognised this shift, utilising social media to connect with younger demographics. The Electoral Commission of Namibia has adopted platforms like Facebook and X to disseminate information and engage with younger voters. This strategy aligns with the registration of over 200,000 new voters, indicating a heightened interest among the youth in electoral processes.

A 2024 report from the Namibian Economist revealed that the number of Namibians actively engaging with political content online has doubled compared to the 2019 general elections. Politicians now rely heavily on platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to communicate their policies and connect with voters.

This shift has not only amplified transparency but also reduced campaign costs, making elections more inclusive. However, challenges persist.

Misinformation

Some experts argue that while social media increases visibility, it also poses risks such as misinformation and polarisation. The most common way of spreading misinformation on social media, according to Fact Check Namibia, is by accounts impersonating real news outlets in Namibia. The article explains that there are accounts on various social media websites, especially Instagram and Facebook, that copy the templates of well-known media news organisations to fool the public into believing a lie because it seems to be presented by an authorotative source.

There are a few ways to quickly check the quality of the information presented. Check if the poster is acutally the organisation it seems to be by looking at the number of followers and other recent posts.

Consider whether the headline use "provocative, emotive headlines and language," the article continues. Also see if other sources support the same claim.

Another hallmark of misinformation, or at the very least sensationalised information, is the "forwarded many times" marker on WhatsApp messages.

AI photos

Artificial intelligence has also started to play a prominent role in Namibian elections. In April of this year, a fake video of American president Joe Biden endorseing the candidate from the ruling party circulated.

According to AI scientist Lance Elliot, these fake vidoes can errode public trust in news organisations. It makes it difficult for people ot know what is real and what isn't. Unfotunately, it is becoming more and more difficullt to detect these fake videos and photos, according to Elliot.

There is no foolproof way to spot AI-generated images. The only advice is not to take anything on the internet on face valkue, whether it is about the elections or not.