Fake News on WhatsApp – Who Can We Trust?

On Sunday 25 October, the Mwepesi English Club talked about something we all see every day: messages "forwarded many times" on WhatsApp.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT In family groups, church groups and work groups, messages arrive all day. Some are true, but many are not. A shocking headline like "Schools Closed Tomorrow!" can travel across the city in one hour. Today anyone can publish a message, a photo or a voice note, and very few people check where it comes from.

This is why real journalism is still important. A good journalist asks questions, speaks to witnesses and checks the facts. Then an editor reads the story again before it goes on the radio, on TV or in the newspaper. Some people say we should follow current affairs only on serious media, because they cover a story from different sides. Others say the media make mistakes too. One thing is sure: when a message claims that something terrible has happened, stop, check and think before you share it.

WORDS WE LEARNED • headline: the title of a news story, in large letters at the top • publish: to make information available to the public, in print or online • journalism: the work of collecting, checking and writing the news • editor: the person who checks and controls what goes into a newspaper or news programme • current affairs: important political or social events happening now • cover: to include and report a subject or an event • claim: to say that something is true, even when there is no proof

THE DEBATE Motion: "WhatsApp does more harm than good to information in Congo." • Should people who forward fake news be punished? • Are radio, TV and newspapers more trustworthy than WhatsApp, or do they also make mistakes? • Whose job is it to stop fake news: the government, the phone companies, or each one of us?

Our tip of the week: stop, check and think before you forward!

Join us! The Club meets every Sunday from 4 pm to 6 pm (16h–18h) at CS Les Bourgeons, 4th Avenue (Lufira), Biashara, Kolwezi. It's free and open to all levels, from A2 to C2. Call or WhatsApp: +243 970 400 321

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