By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA
Accra, Jan. 29, GNA – Mr Nathan Gadugah, the West Africa Editor of fact-checking organisation DUBAWA, has described global streaming sensation IShowSpeed as an exemplary influencer whose success is rooted in creativity, talent and positive content creation rather than disinformation.
According to Mr Gadugah, IShowSpeed’s global popularity demonstrates that influencers could build massive followings and make money without resorting to the spread of false or misleading information.
“This person did not use disinformation, yet he has been able to amass millions of followers worldwide,” he said, adding that IShowSpeed is one of the few streamers young content creators could look up to.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he noted that social media influencers, including bloggers, content creators and streamers, now wield significant influence over public opinion and sometimes even more than traditional media institutions.
He announced that DUBAWA, in collaboration with the European Union, was engaging bloggers and digital content creators as part of an anti-disinformation campaign aimed at promoting ethical content creation and responsible information sharing.
According to him, the initiative would expose participants to strategies for growing their audiences and generating income without relying on falsehoods.
“Bloggers who use disinformation to make money are shooting themselves in the foot in the long run, and that is what we want to prevent,” he said.
Mr Gadugah cited an example from Sierra Leone, where a popular influencer allegedly used disinformation to mobilise public actions such as strikes by doctors and students, resulting in sections of the public trusting the influencer more than established media outlets.
“People now believe such influencers more than traditional media, which should ordinarily be the most trusted source of information, and that is a major concern,” he lamented.
He warned that some individuals were deliberately commercialising disinformation by spreading false content to attract online attention, which they later monetise through social media platforms.
Mr Gadugah said DUBAWA and the European Union would deploy advanced social media monitoring tools to better understand the methods used by disinformation actors and develop targeted strategies to counter the menace.
He urged the public to treat disinformation as a serious global threat and encouraged citizens to verify information before sharing it, describing fact-checking as one of the simplest and most effective ways to curb the spread of falsehoods.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah