Fake news, social media and xenophobia in South Africa

Abstract

This manuscript seeks to underscore the influence of fake news on South Africa’s xenophobia discourse. It argues that fake news disseminated by social media platforms is gradually becoming a key aspect of South Africa’s contemporary xenophobia challenge despite scholarly oversight. The paper further argues that fake news in South Africa has largely been driven by the proliferation of social media platforms which have recently become substitute news platforms for a growing number of South Africans despite their glaring imperfections. The paper concludes by stating that the influence of fake news has bred socio-economic and political tensions within and outside South Africa.