| PHOTO: | A study has found that WhatsApp and Facebook are the main sources of fake news on August polls, July 19, 2017. /FILE |
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By:
NANCY AGUTU
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| Posted:
Jul,22-2017 09:51:44
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Fake news stories on upcoming elections are widespread on WhatsApp and Facebook, a new study released on Wednesday has found.
The study by Portland and GeoPoll mobile surveying platform indicated that 9 out of 10 Kenyans have seen fake news ahead of the August 8 elections.
According to the poll, 90 per cent of respondents reported having seen false or inaccurate news in relation to the general election.
"87 per cent of respondents regarded this news as being deliberately misleading or fake news," the report read.
Allan Kamau, head of Portland and GeoPoll in Nairobi, said regardless of the fake news, Kenyans know how to spot false information.
"Respondents cited conflicting data, controversial messages and biased reporting as the top factors that lead them to suspect something is false," he said.
Kamau said getting even more sophisticated about spotting and tackling fake news will be vital in ensuring that credible news sources can maintain levels of trust.
Popular platforms
According to the poll, Facebook and WhatsApp are the most popular social media platforms for news, preferred overall by 46 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
"Friends and family, and community leaders are the least trusted sources of news overall," it reads.
They were ranked as the least likely to provide accurate information about the general election.
The poll indicated that 57 per cent of Kenyans feel able to access all the information about the general election that they need.
A majority of Kenyans, rated at 78 per cent, would like more factual and accurate information about the general election instead of opinion and commentary.
67 per cent prefer comprehensive and detailed information about politics while 33 per cent prefer summarised and concise information.
Traditional media trusted more
The report further noted that traditional media remains the most trusted news sources, with television ranking highest, followed by radio and newspapers.
Radio is the most consistently accessed source of news in Kenya, with the smallest variation between different provinces across the country.
Social media is widely used by Kenyans of all ages to access and share news, with 49 per cent of Kenyans using social platforms to secure general election news.
"But social media consistently ranks lower than traditional media on trust," the report read.
Steve Gutterman, Portland and GeoPoll CEO, said: "This survey has provided us with rich data on how much of an issue fake news is in Kenya and the impact it is having on how people access reliable information."
How it was conducted
The poll from a sample of 2,000 Kenyans was conducted via SMS.
Respondent's consumption of news in May 2017 in relation to the forthcoming general election was the subject of the study.
During the Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi administrations, the state directly controlled mainstream news media through ownership.
It was thus able to determine what passed as legitimate news.
In the latter years of the Moi presidency and during Mwai Kibaki’s rule, ownership was primarily through proxies.
Today, Kenyans are certain to get the news through their friends long before any media house broadcasts or publishes it.
Further, they are likely to also receive the kind of grisly images which no responsible TV station or newspaper would dream of sharing with its viewers or readers.
Kenyans are preparing to elect a president, MPs, governors, senators, woman reps, and ward representatives on August 8.
Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta is seeking a second five-year term and Opposition leader Raila is determined to unseat him.
Campaigns have gained momentum with Jubilee and NASA leaders attempting to convince the electorate that they are the best.
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